Ornamental orifice...

The Caganer is a traditional Catalan figure, 'endearing, highly respected and beloved' in the typical Catalan Christmas; usually behind a wall next to Jesus' manger. The name means The Shitter and is not [meant to be] a real joke - although to outsiders it can seem a shock or even an insult - on the contrary, it is meant a tribute to whomever it represents; Obama is one bestseller this year. One official website puts it thus (link by clicking on image)

"The Caganer was a obliged figure in the Christmas Cribs of the eighteenth century since at that time was believed that with his fertile depositions the soil of the crib will became rich and productive for the coming year! It was also believed that he would bring good health and calm to the body and the soul, which is necessary to do the crib with pride and happiness that Christmas brings at home. Putting this jolly little man in the crib used to bring luck and happiness." [sic]

Now, I find that a little hard to believe, I think it probably did start out as joke, maybe because it is a very distinct possibility that someone, maybe a shepherd, maybe Joseph or one of the Wise Men would be taken short, certainly a bit scared and in awe of the occasion etc; also, anyone aware of how many people relieve themselves wherever they can (see ordure option) would certainly know it happens all over the world: 2.6 billion people, or 4 out of every 10 people on the planet do not have a toilet (nor a box, bucket, latrine etc) and just 'go' where they can. That said, re the The Caganer, it has become a traditional addition and nowadays all major figures or celebrities in sport, politics etc are 'rewarded' with their depiction in clay, squatting and squeezing out a good turd. Even Gordon Brown has been so rewarded (image left) although in my opinion - would you ever have guessed? - he really is a shit.

Ornamental orifice...

The Caganer is a traditional Catalan figure, 'endearing, highly respected and beloved' in the typical Catalan Christmas; usually behind a wall next to Jesus' manger. The name means The Shitter and is not [meant to be] a real joke - although to outsiders it can seem a shock or even an insult - on the contrary, it is meant a tribute to whomever it represents; Obama is one bestseller this year. One official website puts it thus (link by clicking on image)

"The Caganer was a obliged figure in the Christmas Cribs of the eighteenth century since at that time was believed that with his fertile depositions the soil of the crib will became rich and productive for the coming year! It was also believed that he would bring good health and calm to the body and the soul, which is necessary to do the crib with pride and happiness that Christmas brings at home. Putting this jolly little man in the crib used to bring luck and happiness." [sic]

Now, I find that a little hard to believe, I think it probably did start out as joke, maybe because it is a very distinct possibility that someone, maybe a shepherd, maybe Joseph or one of the Wise Men would be taken short, certainly a bit scared and in awe of the occasion etc; also, anyone aware of how many people relieve themselves wherever they can (see ordure option) would certainly know it happens all over the world: 2.6 billion people, or 4 out of every 10 people on the planet do not have a toilet (nor a box, bucket, latrine etc) and just 'go' where they can. That said, re the The Caganer, it has become a traditional addition and nowadays all major figures or celebrities in sport, politics etc are 'rewarded' with their depiction in clay, squatting and squeezing out a good turd. Even Gordon Brown has been so rewarded (image left) although in my opinion - would you ever have guessed? - he really is a shit.

Opportunist offers...

Not fit for purpose...(did you see what I did there? Thanks to Cincinnus) 20/20 on 20 by 2020 or in other words my vision on the EU's target of 20% reductions by the year 2020. Anyone want a bet that it won't happen? They've taken 2 years just to agree this target for fuck's sake and it sounds like all they want is something they can try and entice incoming President Obama to agree to. "EU leaders claim historic leap towards low-carbon future", well of course they claim that. In The Guardian, "European leaders tonight announced they were leading the world towards a low-carbon future after sealing an ambitious climate change pact by making generous concessions to the big polluters in European heavy industry".

"This is a major advance. Europe, after these decisions, remains the leader on climate change." said Brown....yes, another part of the world you've help save.

"This is a transformational funding stream for a transformational technology," said David Miliband...eh?

"This is a message especially to our US partners," said Barroso. (like, please don't just ignore us again)

"This council will go down in the history of Europe." said Sarkozy. Down, yep, I think that is where it will go but I bet carbon emissions don't. Of course he just wanted it to be agreed on his watch. He also said (reported in the FT)

"We are starting to change the way we do things in Europe, talking less and doing more,"

...no Nicholas, that's what you might think but it is an interesting and long overdue admission of the way things have been done. Anyway, all this is just a Kyoto Lite that was ignored by the US and all those that did sign up haven't cutback greenhouse gas emissions to any great effect, in fact the real polluters, that weren't given reduction targets but did sign the treaty, are increasing emissions.

If you want to do your bit the chart below gives what can be assumed as an average "Western" citizen's usage. What will you cut back on?...and there my friends lies the crux of the matter: the climate crisis (not the finacial one...or the others!) isn't going to disappear in a puff of smoke, although that is possibly one outcome for 'our' Earth! We have some alternatives (wind, tide, sun...) but any technologies we need that would actually reduce emissions by any significant amount aren't there and are certainly not just round the corner and meanwhile we all think what we can do...no car? no foreign travel? no hot water? no heating the house? Well, maybe next year...

Link through the image to the European Union's Greenhouse Gas Emission Trading Scheme

Opportunist offers...

Not fit for purpose...(did you see what I did there? Thanks to Cincinnus) 20/20 on 20 by 2020 or in other words my vision on the EU's target of 20% reductions by the year 2020. Anyone want a bet that it won't happen? They've taken 2 years just to agree this target for fuck's sake and it sounds like all they want is something they can try and entice incoming President Obama to agree to. "EU leaders claim historic leap towards low-carbon future", well of course they claim that. In The Guardian, "European leaders tonight announced they were leading the world towards a low-carbon future after sealing an ambitious climate change pact by making generous concessions to the big polluters in European heavy industry".

"This is a major advance. Europe, after these decisions, remains the leader on climate change." said Brown....yes, another part of the world you've help save.

"This is a transformational funding stream for a transformational technology," said David Miliband...eh?

"This is a message especially to our US partners," said Barroso. (like, please don't just ignore us again)

"This council will go down in the history of Europe." said Sarkozy. Down, yep, I think that is where it will go but I bet carbon emissions don't. Of course he just wanted it to be agreed on his watch. He also said (reported in the FT)

"We are starting to change the way we do things in Europe, talking less and doing more,"

...no Nicholas, that's what you might think but it is an interesting and long overdue admission of the way things have been done. Anyway, all this is just a Kyoto Lite that was ignored by the US and all those that did sign up haven't cutback greenhouse gas emissions to any great effect, in fact the real polluters, that weren't given reduction targets but did sign the treaty, are increasing emissions.

If you want to do your bit the chart below gives what can be assumed as an average "Western" citizen's usage. What will you cut back on?...and there my friends lies the crux of the matter: the climate crisis (not the finacial one...or the others!) isn't going to disappear in a puff of smoke, although that is possibly one outcome for 'our' Earth! We have some alternatives (wind, tide, sun...) but any technologies we need that would actually reduce emissions by any significant amount aren't there and are certainly not just round the corner and meanwhile we all think what we can do...no car? no foreign travel? no hot water? no heating the house? Well, maybe next year...

Link through the image to the European Union's Greenhouse Gas Emission Trading Scheme

All this talk of superheroes, Flash Gordon and saving the world is a timely reminder (ahem) of the vast unexplored space surrounding us and what we've done as a race to explore it: 40 years ago today Gordo flew higher than any other; I refer of course to Gordo the monkey who "was not the first animal to have ventured into space, but he is the first primate to have flown so high." I'm sure there are more than a few parallels to be drawn with modern politics: at the time no other Gordo had flown so high but then sunk so low...without a trace in fact.

All this talk of superheroes, Flash Gordon and saving the world is a timely reminder (ahem) of the vast unexplored space surrounding us and what we've done as a race to explore it: 40 years ago today Gordo flew higher than any other; I refer of course to Gordo the monkey who "was not the first animal to have ventured into space, but he is the first primate to have flown so high." I'm sure there are more than a few parallels to be drawn with modern politics: at the time no other Gordo had flown so high but then sunk so low...without a trace in fact.

Over overspending...

"The true extent of Britain's debt" is a matter of debate, Gordon Brown had been saying 37% of GDP, the ONS has it at 43% of GDP; however, including PFI, bank bail-out and public sector pensions it gets up to almost 140%...but it doesn't stop there:

"The reason Britain is in so much trouble is that our corporate and household debts are huge. It is the combination that makes us such a credit liability."... "the UK economy and financial system highly vulnerable when, as now, global banking and capital flows dries up."

"Here is the picture narrowed down to short- term debt (ie, due by next Christmas)" see graph below, full story HERE from Nelson Fraser at The Spectator.

G7 Countries - rations of short-term external debt/GDP, 2003Q2 - 2008 Q2

There are more gob-smacking numbers over at BOM (Burning Our Money) where they estimate - on the back of a fag packet :-) - that by 2013/14 it will be costing 100 BILLION pounds per year just to service the debts. Or if you want it really scary then BOM can provide for you...and this was 2.5 years ago! [Link]

These numbers should be on the front pages of every newspaper in the country and on the news channels and programmes of every TV station...well I can't imagine the BBC complying but the others should.

Over overspending...

"The true extent of Britain's debt" is a matter of debate, Gordon Brown had been saying 37% of GDP, the ONS has it at 43% of GDP; however, including PFI, bank bail-out and public sector pensions it gets up to almost 140%...but it doesn't stop there:

"The reason Britain is in so much trouble is that our corporate and household debts are huge. It is the combination that makes us such a credit liability."... "the UK economy and financial system highly vulnerable when, as now, global banking and capital flows dries up."

"Here is the picture narrowed down to short- term debt (ie, due by next Christmas)" see graph below, full story HERE from Nelson Fraser at The Spectator.

G7 Countries - rations of short-term external debt/GDP, 2003Q2 - 2008 Q2

There are more gob-smacking numbers over at BOM (Burning Our Money) where they estimate - on the back of a fag packet :-) - that by 2013/14 it will be costing 100 BILLION pounds per year just to service the debts. Or if you want it really scary then BOM can provide for you...and this was 2.5 years ago! [Link]

These numbers should be on the front pages of every newspaper in the country and on the news channels and programmes of every TV station...well I can't imagine the BBC complying but the others should.

Overweening officials...

Following on from my previous post today about certain "on-this-days" I note that in certain European countries and elsewhere it is also St. Nicholas Day - I knew this before but have just read something that made me want to post about it...bear with me...first though a comment that St. Nicholas is also patron saint of amongst other things nudists, the falsely accused, pawnbrokers, prostitutes and repentant thieves but he is mostly 'remembered' for giving to the poor, usually giving to the poor anonymously, a custom that continued after his death. He is also known as Santa Claus...and - still bearing with me I hope - about to take up the reins in the rotating presidency of the European Union will be Václav Klaus who is sure to cause a few ripples...much of which I am sure to agree with (see this Herald Tribune article for more details of why [IHT] ).

Anyway, what led me to post was the post on EU Referendum: Which one's the democrat? . Unbelievable...no, totally believable! Read it; it ends thus:

[President Vaclav Klaus] "I did not compare you with the Soviet Union, I did not mention the word[s] 'Soviet Union'. I only said that I have not experienced such an atmosphere, such style of debate in the past 19 years in the Czech Republic, really."

Overweening officials...

Following on from my previous post today about certain "on-this-days" I note that in certain European countries and elsewhere it is also St. Nicholas Day - I knew this before but have just read something that made me want to post about it...bear with me...first though a comment that St. Nicholas is also patron saint of amongst other things nudists, the falsely accused, pawnbrokers, prostitutes and repentant thieves but he is mostly 'remembered' for giving to the poor, usually giving to the poor anonymously, a custom that continued after his death. He is also known as Santa Claus...and - still bearing with me I hope - about to take up the reins in the rotating presidency of the European Union will be Václav Klaus who is sure to cause a few ripples...much of which I am sure to agree with (see this Herald Tribune article for more details of why [IHT] ).

Anyway, what led me to post was the post on EU Referendum: Which one's the democrat? . Unbelievable...no, totally believable! Read it; it ends thus:

[President Vaclav Klaus] "I did not compare you with the Soviet Union, I did not mention the word[s] 'Soviet Union'. I only said that I have not experienced such an atmosphere, such style of debate in the past 19 years in the Czech Republic, really."

Today 30 years ago here in Spain the people voted positively in a referendum for The Constitution of Spain; it is regarded as the culmination of the Spanish transition to democracy from the Francoist dictatorship. The long road from their 'original democracy' started back in the early 1800s, the first constitution was written in 1812 after the Spanish people had risen up against French domination and with British help under Wellington booted out Napoleon. It continued through the loss of colonies, more than one dictator, staying out of both World Wars and in between, a bloody civil war.

Today, is also the day, 10 years ago Hugo Chavez was elected President of Venezuela; happy anniversay Hugo...ten years...not quite sure of any connection except that Venezuela seems to be heading from democracy to dictatorship or at least hovering between the blurred lines of the two.

Reading on the blatantly pro-Chavez website Venezulea Analasis I was sifting through various articles, impressed that Venezuela was 4th in a Life Satisfaction poll (rather than take their spin I looked it up myself [IDB]...) when I noticed another article named "To Stop the Advance of the Right, We Must Strengthen People's Power" where they interviewed Gonzalo Gómez of Chavez's United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV). Interesting..."The Right" aren't part of the people?

[VA] What does the election of opposition governors and mayors mean for the community councils, communal organizing in general, and the communal cities proposed in Chávez's recent law-decrees?

[GG] Well, surely they are going to be an obstacle and they are going to be enemies of this. They are going to try to destroy it. At best, they will manipulate it initially, and they will go and converse, dialogue, and begin to build bridges from the government.

But this is a dialogue of traitors aimed at taking advantage and buying time to prepare for what they are going to do afterward. We are talking about the counter-revolution. We are talking about a rancid ultra-right wing. They are mortal enemies of people's organizations, of popular power.

Nice...vote against, or God forbid, indulge in dialogue that is not pro Chavez and you must be a traitor, a rancid, ultra-right mortal enemy of the people.

P.S. In that last link "another article" it appears that Dave Lee Travis is a Venezuelan hero!

Today 30 years ago here in Spain the people voted positively in a referendum for The Constitution of Spain; it is regarded as the culmination of the Spanish transition to democracy from the Francoist dictatorship. The long road from their 'original democracy' started back in the early 1800s, the first constitution was written in 1812 after the Spanish people had risen up against French domination and with British help under Wellington booted out Napoleon. It continued through the loss of colonies, more than one dictator, staying out of both World Wars and in between, a bloody civil war.

Today, is also the day, 10 years ago Hugo Chavez was elected President of Venezuela; happy anniversay Hugo...ten years...not quite sure of any connection except that Venezuela seems to be heading from democracy to dictatorship or at least hovering between the blurred lines of the two.

Reading on the blatantly pro-Chavez website Venezulea Analasis I was sifting through various articles, impressed that Venezuela was 4th in a Life Satisfaction poll (rather than take their spin I looked it up myself [IDB]...) when I noticed another article named "To Stop the Advance of the Right, We Must Strengthen People's Power" where they interviewed Gonzalo Gómez of Chavez's United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV). Interesting..."The Right" aren't part of the people?

[VA] What does the election of opposition governors and mayors mean for the community councils, communal organizing in general, and the communal cities proposed in Chávez's recent law-decrees?

[GG] Well, surely they are going to be an obstacle and they are going to be enemies of this. They are going to try to destroy it. At best, they will manipulate it initially, and they will go and converse, dialogue, and begin to build bridges from the government.

But this is a dialogue of traitors aimed at taking advantage and buying time to prepare for what they are going to do afterward. We are talking about the counter-revolution. We are talking about a rancid ultra-right wing. They are mortal enemies of people's organizations, of popular power.

Nice...vote against, or God forbid, indulge in dialogue that is not pro Chavez and you must be a traitor, a rancid, ultra-right mortal enemy of the people.

P.S. In that last link "another article" it appears that Dave Lee Travis is a Venezuelan hero!

Oneirataxian outing...

Oneirataxia n. - inability to distinguish between fantasy and reality. (How appropriate!)

Oh how I laughed...it appears that Gordon Brown will be going on a "Listen to the People Tour" in early 2009...as reported by that scandalously biased toilet paper The Daily Mirror. Hahahaha..."listen"? This is the lying fool that has spectacularly failed to listen to any advice probably for as long as anyone can remember.

I continued laughing as I read all the very predictable (and why not!) comments HERE on CentreRight, from whence I was led to the Mirror - wouldn't go near the shit-heap otherwise - after they asked: "So let's give him a taster of what to expect when he hits the road next month. What do you want to tell Gordon Brown?", the prize must go to Norm Brainer (hehehe) for this reply. I hope there's good security on the tour: it could get a bit rough!

Oneirataxian outing...

Oneirataxia n. - inability to distinguish between fantasy and reality. (How appropriate!)

Oh how I laughed...it appears that Gordon Brown will be going on a "Listen to the People Tour" in early 2009...as reported by that scandalously biased toilet paper The Daily Mirror. Hahahaha..."listen"? This is the lying fool that has spectacularly failed to listen to any advice probably for as long as anyone can remember.

I continued laughing as I read all the very predictable (and why not!) comments HERE on CentreRight, from whence I was led to the Mirror - wouldn't go near the shit-heap otherwise - after they asked: "So let's give him a taster of what to expect when he hits the road next month. What do you want to tell Gordon Brown?", the prize must go to Norm Brainer (hehehe) for this reply. I hope there's good security on the tour: it could get a bit rough!

Objectionable oration...

After various insults and threats before the elections...and after trying to claim an advance in his Bolivarian Revolution despite the opposition winning in the three most important states (in population terms) —"Zulia, Miranda and Carabobo—together with metropolitan Caracas and four of the capital’s five districts" [Economist]...and after last year's attempts to have the constitution changed to allow [his] re-election (narrowly defeated in a referendum)...and after this week claiming he would not 'personally' seek to remove the constitutional bar on more than two terms which would force him out - from the presidency at least - by Jan 2013 claiming that he could not stop someone else doing it...well he couldn't wait even one week: today in another objectionable oration, he called upon his party saying he "wants a constitutional amendment to permit his re-election".

"Chávez quiere una enmienda constitucional para permitir su reelección" [El País (Spanish)] "El presidente venezolano pide a su partido que inicie los debates para lograr la reforma que le perpetúe en el poder"

The Venezuelan president called on his party to initiate the debates to achieve the reforms that would keep him in power.

Objectionable oration...

After various insults and threats before the elections...and after trying to claim an advance in his Bolivarian Revolution despite the opposition winning in the three most important states (in population terms) —"Zulia, Miranda and Carabobo—together with metropolitan Caracas and four of the capital’s five districts" [Economist]...and after last year's attempts to have the constitution changed to allow [his] re-election (narrowly defeated in a referendum)...and after this week claiming he would not 'personally' seek to remove the constitutional bar on more than two terms which would force him out - from the presidency at least - by Jan 2013 claiming that he could not stop someone else doing it...well he couldn't wait even one week: today in another objectionable oration, he called upon his party saying he "wants a constitutional amendment to permit his re-election".

"Chávez quiere una enmienda constitucional para permitir su reelección" [El País (Spanish)] "El presidente venezolano pide a su partido que inicie los debates para lograr la reforma que le perpetúe en el poder"

The Venezuelan president called on his party to initiate the debates to achieve the reforms that would keep him in power.

Olamic obloquy...

olamic adj. - infinite, eternal [obscure words]
obloquy n. - abuse; disgrace. oblocutor, n. one who denies or disputes.

It seems that politicians are becoming even more worried about criticism, about being found out: how dare the plebs write about high and mighty politicians and how they waste spend taxpayers' money. A story that has buzzed the Belgian blogosphere is spreading quickly: at TechCrunch we're told that "When Everyone Is A Blogger, Nothing You Say Is Off The Record" (great photo at the bottom of that post!) where Robin Wauters mentions how the Belgian Minister of Defense Pieter De Crem was observed on a binge in New York with his entourage of civil servants in tow, bartender Nathalie Lubbe Bakker blogged (in Dutch) about their visit adding that the Minister had gone to NYC knowing full well his meetings were cancelled but that he decided to take the trip anyway...all paid for by taxpayers of course. This has led to a chain of events, including Nathalie being sacked - she has since written a post re free speech - and also De Crem having to explain himself to his Belgian Parliamentary colleagues a speech during which he took the opportunity to go on the offensive and is recorded as saying:

I want to take this opportunity and use this non-event to signal a dangerous phenomenon in our society. We live in a time where everybody is free to publish whatever he or she wants on blogs at will without taking any responsibility. This exceeds mud-slinging. Together with you, other Parliament members and the government I find that it’s nearly impossible to defend yourself against this. Everyone of you is a potential victim. I would like to ask you to take a moment and think about this.

This 'dangerous phenomenon' where everybody is free to post the truth? Where it's nearly impossible to defend yourself against the "mud-slinging" that is others' knowledge of politicians' abuse of power and position? This hint about the need to control blogs is nothing new: the EU has already been in debate re controlling blogging but do we really want to go the way of certain not-too-free societies? The blogosphere should not be seen as a threat, it should be seen both as a source of information (checking sources is becoming very easy and nobody would/should take anything as 'Gospel' without at least double-checking) and of criticism, hopefully constructive; as Robin says and I wholeheartedly concur:

People, and especially politicians representing them, need to wake up and smell the coffee. The world is changing, and blogging is now a big part of it, with all of its good sides as well as its bad ones. Live and learn. The sooner you get the hang of social media, the more you’ll see the opportunities in there rather than the threats.

Politicians from all/any parties and from any country, especially in government, should never really be trusted (without public knowledge/consent) to claim they act in the people's interest (or their country's national interest) when they confuse it with their own political interest.

The banner below - and the one I now have in my sidebar - is with thanks to the Enchanté / adhese blog (click on the banner to go there)

Olamic obloquy...

olamic adj. - infinite, eternal [obscure words]
obloquy n. - abuse; disgrace. oblocutor, n. one who denies or disputes.

It seems that politicians are becoming even more worried about criticism, about being found out: how dare the plebs write about high and mighty politicians and how they waste spend taxpayers' money. A story that has buzzed the Belgian blogosphere is spreading quickly: at TechCrunch we're told that "When Everyone Is A Blogger, Nothing You Say Is Off The Record" (great photo at the bottom of that post!) where Robin Wauters mentions how the Belgian Minister of Defense Pieter De Crem was observed on a binge in New York with his entourage of civil servants in tow, bartender Nathalie Lubbe Bakker blogged (in Dutch) about their visit adding that the Minister had gone to NYC knowing full well his meetings were cancelled but that he decided to take the trip anyway...all paid for by taxpayers of course. This has led to a chain of events, including Nathalie being sacked - she has since written a post re free speech - and also De Crem having to explain himself to his Belgian Parliamentary colleagues a speech during which he took the opportunity to go on the offensive and is recorded as saying:

I want to take this opportunity and use this non-event to signal a dangerous phenomenon in our society. We live in a time where everybody is free to publish whatever he or she wants on blogs at will without taking any responsibility. This exceeds mud-slinging. Together with you, other Parliament members and the government I find that it’s nearly impossible to defend yourself against this. Everyone of you is a potential victim. I would like to ask you to take a moment and think about this.

This 'dangerous phenomenon' where everybody is free to post the truth? Where it's nearly impossible to defend yourself against the "mud-slinging" that is others' knowledge of politicians' abuse of power and position? This hint about the need to control blogs is nothing new: the EU has already been in debate re controlling blogging but do we really want to go the way of certain not-too-free societies? The blogosphere should not be seen as a threat, it should be seen both as a source of information (checking sources is becoming very easy and nobody would/should take anything as 'Gospel' without at least double-checking) and of criticism, hopefully constructive; as Robin says and I wholeheartedly concur:

People, and especially politicians representing them, need to wake up and smell the coffee. The world is changing, and blogging is now a big part of it, with all of its good sides as well as its bad ones. Live and learn. The sooner you get the hang of social media, the more you’ll see the opportunities in there rather than the threats.

Politicians from all/any parties and from any country, especially in government, should never really be trusted (without public knowledge/consent) to claim they act in the people's interest (or their country's national interest) when they confuse it with their own political interest.

The banner below - and the one I now have in my sidebar - is with thanks to the Enchanté / adhese blog (click on the banner to go there)

Olympic obstacle...

With over 3 years to go it was nice to read about the first venue for the next Olympic Games being declared open [Link] the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) announced that the 2012 sailing venue was ready, ahead of time and on budget. The Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy is only a short drive from my UK pied-à-terre and most of the Dorset coastline is well worth visiting in it's own right [Jurassic Coast].

That said, Weymouth isn't the easiest place to get to, it may LOOK easy with two approach roads - one 'a major' A Road - and a railway, [Google map] but anyone who's actually been there can testify that it's bleedin' awful by road or rail...small, old, delapidated, two-carriage trains make the journey - but not as often as you'd think - and in summer when you would expect many more trains or carriages to be added to service a major seaside town then you'd be mistaken; also, the roads are clogged on even the slightest increase in traffic. So, the venue may be ready but if there are no plans to improve the approach or the ability to accomadate thousands of extra visitors apart from the normal holiday traffic then they can kiss goodbye to any plaudits they may get for being ready 3 years before the event!

Olympic obstacle...

With over 3 years to go it was nice to read about the first venue for the next Olympic Games being declared open [Link] the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) announced that the 2012 sailing venue was ready, ahead of time and on budget. The Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy is only a short drive from my UK pied-à-terre and most of the Dorset coastline is well worth visiting in it's own right [Jurassic Coast].

That said, Weymouth isn't the easiest place to get to, it may LOOK easy with two approach roads - one 'a major' A Road - and a railway, [Google map] but anyone who's actually been there can testify that it's bleedin' awful by road or rail...small, old, delapidated, two-carriage trains make the journey - but not as often as you'd think - and in summer when you would expect many more trains or carriages to be added to service a major seaside town then you'd be mistaken; also, the roads are clogged on even the slightest increase in traffic. So, the venue may be ready but if there are no plans to improve the approach or the ability to accomadate thousands of extra visitors apart from the normal holiday traffic then they can kiss goodbye to any plaudits they may get for being ready 3 years before the event!

Ominous overreaction?...

What a worrying state of affairs: "Damian Green - arrested under the most sinister law in Britain?" The Red Box blog discussing Green's arrest under suspicion of "aiding and abetting, counselling or procuring misconduct in a public office" led me to Nick Cohen's article in The Guardian in September re the case of Sally Murrer.[Link]
"Once in custody, detectives kept her isolated from her two teenage daughters and autistic son for 24 hours. Then they began the grilling... ...They let her go, but soon hauled her back in. Before her second interrogation, they left her shivering in a cell. Before her third, a woman officer put on rubber gloves and strip-searched her. After that, 'I just lost my ability to think coherently,'"

"With their full knowledge, the law enforcement agencies have devoted vast effort on hounding a part-time reporter on a little local paper, while ignoring the criminals the public pays them to catch."

Of course such developments are worrying, the Green episode may come to nought but the trend, if it is indeed a trend (how many cases have not had the coverage?) is Stasiesque to say the least: and as one poster (thank you JSG) put it on the BBC R5L messageboards: "The opposition has an official position, standing, Her Majesties opposition. I can not see how a servant of the state civil service can 'leak' to a shadow minister. They surely are entitled to any information in the state system."

...and by complete and unbelievable coincidence: reported today in The Times.

Ominous overreaction?...

What a worrying state of affairs: "Damian Green - arrested under the most sinister law in Britain?" The Red Box blog discussing Green's arrest under suspicion of "aiding and abetting, counselling or procuring misconduct in a public office" led me to Nick Cohen's article in The Guardian in September re the case of Sally Murrer.[Link]
"Once in custody, detectives kept her isolated from her two teenage daughters and autistic son for 24 hours. Then they began the grilling... ...They let her go, but soon hauled her back in. Before her second interrogation, they left her shivering in a cell. Before her third, a woman officer put on rubber gloves and strip-searched her. After that, 'I just lost my ability to think coherently,'"

"With their full knowledge, the law enforcement agencies have devoted vast effort on hounding a part-time reporter on a little local paper, while ignoring the criminals the public pays them to catch."

Of course such developments are worrying, the Green episode may come to nought but the trend, if it is indeed a trend (how many cases have not had the coverage?) is Stasiesque to say the least: and as one poster (thank you JSG) put it on the BBC R5L messageboards: "The opposition has an official position, standing, Her Majesties opposition. I can not see how a servant of the state civil service can 'leak' to a shadow minister. They surely are entitled to any information in the state system."

...and by complete and unbelievable coincidence: reported today in The Times.

"Tory Bear's 'trance remix' of George Osborne's brilliant response to the Pre Budget Report" from Play Political.com.

"Tory Bear's 'trance remix' of George Osborne's brilliant response to the Pre Budget Report" from Play Political.com.

Ocracy outgoings (II)...

I thought the latest Public Sector Rich List would make an appropriate follow-up to the post below re government spending and to the oncoming-oppression post below that. The list is published via The Taxpayers' Alliance and has some startling (to me at least!) figures.

Here are the Key Findings from the TPA website:

• 
  There are 387 people receiving remuneration packages of £150,000 or more a year across 140 government departments, quangos, other public bodies and public corporations, up from 300 people on the 2007 Public Sector Rich List. (Note that this excludes local government, who are published on their own TPA Rich List every March. The 2008 Town Hall Rich List identified 88 people earning over £150,000 a year.)
• 
  There are 4 people in the public sector who earn more than £1 million a year, up from 1 person earning above £1 million last year.
• 
  There are 21 people in the public sector earning above £500,000 a year, up from 17 on last year's list.
• 
  There are 88 people earning above £250,000 a year, up from 66 on last year's list.
• 
  There are 194 people earning more than the Prime Minister, whose salary is £189,994, up from 142 on last year's list.
• 
  The 387 people on our list had an average pay rise of 10.9%... This is three times average earnings growth (including bonuses) across the country, which is currently around 3.5%
• 
  The average total remuneration of the 387 people on the list is almost £240,000 per annum. This works out at over £4,600 a week...
• 
  The 10 most highly paid people in the public sector earn almost £1 million on average...
• 
  The report features a list of the top 10 rewards for failure, including highly paid officials from HMRC (which lost 25 million people's personal data); the Financial Services Authority (which presided over the worst financial crisis since 1930); Northern Rock; the QCA and other organisations which have failed the public.
• 
  The report includes a list of 10 people working for the three bodies responsible for regulating the financial system – the FSA, the Treasury and the Bank of England - who have overseen the financial crisis. Their remuneration packages average almost £400,000 per annum.
• 
  A special list is also included of 24 executives who have presided over embarrassing losses of personal data over the past year. Their average remuneration package was over £190,000 per annum."

Read the full report here (PDF).

Ocracy outgoings (II)...

I thought the latest Public Sector Rich List would make an appropriate follow-up to the post below re government spending and to the oncoming-oppression post below that. The list is published via The Taxpayers' Alliance and has some startling (to me at least!) figures.

Here are the Key Findings from the TPA website:

• 
  There are 387 people receiving remuneration packages of £150,000 or more a year across 140 government departments, quangos, other public bodies and public corporations, up from 300 people on the 2007 Public Sector Rich List. (Note that this excludes local government, who are published on their own TPA Rich List every March. The 2008 Town Hall Rich List identified 88 people earning over £150,000 a year.)
• 
  There are 4 people in the public sector who earn more than £1 million a year, up from 1 person earning above £1 million last year.
• 
  There are 21 people in the public sector earning above £500,000 a year, up from 17 on last year's list.
• 
  There are 88 people earning above £250,000 a year, up from 66 on last year's list.
• 
  There are 194 people earning more than the Prime Minister, whose salary is £189,994, up from 142 on last year's list.
• 
  The 387 people on our list had an average pay rise of 10.9%... This is three times average earnings growth (including bonuses) across the country, which is currently around 3.5%
• 
  The average total remuneration of the 387 people on the list is almost £240,000 per annum. This works out at over £4,600 a week...
• 
  The 10 most highly paid people in the public sector earn almost £1 million on average...
• 
  The report features a list of the top 10 rewards for failure, including highly paid officials from HMRC (which lost 25 million people's personal data); the Financial Services Authority (which presided over the worst financial crisis since 1930); Northern Rock; the QCA and other organisations which have failed the public.
• 
  The report includes a list of 10 people working for the three bodies responsible for regulating the financial system – the FSA, the Treasury and the Bank of England - who have overseen the financial crisis. Their remuneration packages average almost £400,000 per annum.
• 
  A special list is also included of 24 executives who have presided over embarrassing losses of personal data over the past year. Their average remuneration package was over £190,000 per annum."

Read the full report here (PDF).

Ocracy outgoings...

Thanks to Wat Tyler at Burning Our Money Blog for this handy chart highlighting what the 'on the books' cost is of running UK Plc. (click on image to enlarge) or source: Guardian PDF file.

Ocracy outgoings...

Thanks to Wat Tyler at Burning Our Money Blog for this handy chart highlighting what the 'on the books' cost is of running UK Plc. (click on image to enlarge) or source: Guardian PDF file.

Oncoming oppression...

"However Gordon Brown wraps it up, it's still a tax bombshell" [Play political] ...and that's looking on the bright side. "Don't let him get away with it". To add a sense of balance, although I don't think they deserve it, Labour, it seems, would rather get personal. That said I was pleasantly surprised to see the latest ICM poll not being so close as expected.

P.S. Darling [not my darling] I hope the planned VAT cut isn't all you and your puppet master are planning on doing [The Guardian]...what a load of cobblers. Whom will this really help? More practical problems overheard at Village Counter Talk.

From the Guardian: "City economists said a VAT cut was 'psychologically attractive', as it would encourage people to spend when times were hard and could easily be withdrawn later."

Still, not to worry, as the Times tells us, the government are doing their level best to lower unemployment by continuing the unbelivable jobs bonanza for pen-pushers for, despite it all:

"local authorities and government departments are still creating a plethora of obscure pen-pushing posts at taxpayers' expense."

Oncoming oppression...

"However Gordon Brown wraps it up, it's still a tax bombshell" [Play political] ...and that's looking on the bright side. "Don't let him get away with it". To add a sense of balance, although I don't think they deserve it, Labour, it seems, would rather get personal. That said I was pleasantly surprised to see the latest ICM poll not being so close as expected.

P.S. Darling [not my darling] I hope the planned VAT cut isn't all you and your puppet master are planning on doing [The Guardian]...what a load of cobblers. Whom will this really help? More practical problems overheard at Village Counter Talk.

From the Guardian: "City economists said a VAT cut was 'psychologically attractive', as it would encourage people to spend when times were hard and could easily be withdrawn later."

Still, not to worry, as the Times tells us, the government are doing their level best to lower unemployment by continuing the unbelivable jobs bonanza for pen-pushers for, despite it all:

"local authorities and government departments are still creating a plethora of obscure pen-pushing posts at taxpayers' expense."

Observing odd occasions...

Just catching up on the day and was horrified earlier by the record defeat of the England rugby team on home soil; they lost 6 - 42 against a rampant and merciless (who can blame them?) South Africa...imagine my surprise to see that on this very day 5 years ago England won the Rugby World Cup! Our record since then - apart from the 2007 World Cup (???!!!) - has been dire to say the least.

Following that up I noticed that it was the day when all Americans over a certain age remember where they were/what they were doing...President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas...imagine my horror again to realise I had forgotten that this was the day, 18 years ago, when Margaret Thatcher was forced to resign as Prime Minister...some call it the UK's equivalent of remembering where they were. Thanks to Ian Dale for the reminder! By the way, I was in Venezuela at the time on the flood plains of the Orinoco listening to the BBC world service.

Finally, speaking of Venezuela, tomorrow el pueblo venozolano go once more to the polls to vote in local elections for municipal mayors and also for governors of the country's 23 states and el Distrito Capital (Caracas). Chavez remains popular but many of his 'chosen ones' are not so Hugo is making the election one about him and to that end has been travelling around rallying support along with the usual threats and insults.

"In the past, mere association with President Chavez was enough for local candidates to pull in the votes they needed for victory. That's no longer guaranteed."

Hence the frenzied activity by Chavez himself "cranking up the rhetoric", almost everyone expects some losses in support for Chavez from the last elections (2004), how many will depend, as in most elections, on the oppositions' turnout.

Observing odd occasions...

Just catching up on the day and was horrified earlier by the record defeat of the England rugby team on home soil; they lost 6 - 42 against a rampant and merciless (who can blame them?) South Africa...imagine my surprise to see that on this very day 5 years ago England won the Rugby World Cup! Our record since then - apart from the 2007 World Cup (???!!!) - has been dire to say the least.

Following that up I noticed that it was the day when all Americans over a certain age remember where they were/what they were doing...President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas...imagine my horror again to realise I had forgotten that this was the day, 18 years ago, when Margaret Thatcher was forced to resign as Prime Minister...some call it the UK's equivalent of remembering where they were. Thanks to Ian Dale for the reminder! By the way, I was in Venezuela at the time on the flood plains of the Orinoco listening to the BBC world service.

Finally, speaking of Venezuela, tomorrow el pueblo venozolano go once more to the polls to vote in local elections for municipal mayors and also for governors of the country's 23 states and el Distrito Capital (Caracas). Chavez remains popular but many of his 'chosen ones' are not so Hugo is making the election one about him and to that end has been travelling around rallying support along with the usual threats and insults.

"In the past, mere association with President Chavez was enough for local candidates to pull in the votes they needed for victory. That's no longer guaranteed."

Hence the frenzied activity by Chavez himself "cranking up the rhetoric", almost everyone expects some losses in support for Chavez from the last elections (2004), how many will depend, as in most elections, on the oppositions' turnout.

Obama option...

As we all know Barack Obama is selecting a new and varied team: some of the old Clinton administration crowd but also new blood and even, some say, Republican sympathisers...that said insider knowledge of what Obama's first Presidential decision will be has taken many by surprise: see it HERE.

Obama option...

As we all know Barack Obama is selecting a new and varied team: some of the old Clinton administration crowd but also new blood and even, some say, Republican sympathisers...that said insider knowledge of what Obama's first Presidential decision will be has taken many by surprise: see it HERE.

Offering orderly ordure option...

Or, to put it another way: giving people a proper place to shit...and it's no joke although I challenge you to think that today is World Toilet Day without a smile crossing your lips (or imagination) but it's a noble cause. A new book by Rose George, The Big Necessity , tells it how it is and there are parts that are not nice. How many people in the world? Six billionish; how many people without sanitation? Well the answer is more than 2 and a half billion (2.6 BILLION)!!! Although things are improving. An excerpt from Rose's book:

"He thought that I thought a toilet was my right, when he knew it was a privilege...It must be, when 2.6 billion people don't have sanitation. I don't mean that they have no toilet in their house and must use a public one with queues and fees. Or that they have an outhouse or a rickety shack that empties into a filthy drain or pigsty. All that counts as sanitation, though not a safe variety. The people who have those are the fortunate ones. But four in ten people have no access to any latrine, toilet, bucket, or box. Nothing. Instead, they defecate by train tracks and in forests. They do it in plastic bags and fling them through the air in narrow slum alleyways. If they are women, they get up at 4 a.m. to be able to do their business under cover of darkness for reasons of modesty, risking rape and snakebites. Four in ten people live in situations in which they are surrounded by human excrement, because it is in the bushes outside the village or in their city yards, left by children outside the back door. It is tramped back in on their feet, carried on fingers onto clothes and into food and drinking water."

Graphic description to say the least. Much, much, more from Rose's book, and well worth the read, previewed HERE in the Slate Magazine last month, in which is the quote:

"Sanitation is more important than independence."

Mahatma Ghandi

Offering orderly ordure option...

Or, to put it another way: giving people a proper place to shit...and it's no joke although I challenge you to think that today is World Toilet Day without a smile crossing your lips (or imagination) but it's a noble cause. A new book by Rose George, The Big Necessity , tells it how it is and there are parts that are not nice. How many people in the world? Six billionish; how many people without sanitation? Well the answer is more than 2 and a half billion (2.6 BILLION)!!! Although things are improving. An excerpt from Rose's book:

"He thought that I thought a toilet was my right, when he knew it was a privilege...It must be, when 2.6 billion people don't have sanitation. I don't mean that they have no toilet in their house and must use a public one with queues and fees. Or that they have an outhouse or a rickety shack that empties into a filthy drain or pigsty. All that counts as sanitation, though not a safe variety. The people who have those are the fortunate ones. But four in ten people have no access to any latrine, toilet, bucket, or box. Nothing. Instead, they defecate by train tracks and in forests. They do it in plastic bags and fling them through the air in narrow slum alleyways. If they are women, they get up at 4 a.m. to be able to do their business under cover of darkness for reasons of modesty, risking rape and snakebites. Four in ten people live in situations in which they are surrounded by human excrement, because it is in the bushes outside the village or in their city yards, left by children outside the back door. It is tramped back in on their feet, carried on fingers onto clothes and into food and drinking water."

Graphic description to say the least. Much, much, more from Rose's book, and well worth the read, previewed HERE in the Slate Magazine last month, in which is the quote:

"Sanitation is more important than independence."

Mahatma Ghandi

Offering orderly ordure option...

Or, to put it another way: giving people a proper place to shit...and it's no joke although I challenge you to think that today is World Toilet Day without a smile crossing your lips (or imagination) but it's a noble cause. A new book by Rose George, The Big Necessity , tells it how it is and there are parts that are not nice. How many people in the world? Six billionish; how many people without sanitation? Well the answer is more than 2 and a half billion (2.6 BILLION)!!! Although things are improving [WHO/UNICEF] An excerpt from Rose's book:

"He thought that I thought a toilet was my right, when he knew it was a privilege...It must be, when 2.6 billion people don't have sanitation. I don't mean that they have no toilet in their house and must use a public one with queues and fees. Or that they have an outhouse or a rickety shack that empties into a filthy drain or pigsty. All that counts as sanitation, though not a safe variety. The people who have those are the fortunate ones. But four in ten people have no access to any latrine, toilet, bucket, or box. Nothing. Instead, they defecate by train tracks and in forests. They do it in plastic bags and fling them through the air in narrow slum alleyways. If they are women, they get up at 4 a.m. to be able to do their business under cover of darkness for reasons of modesty, risking rape and snakebites. Four in ten people live in situations in which they are surrounded by human excrement, because it is in the bushes outside the village or in their city yards, left by children outside the back door. It is tramped back in on their feet, carried on fingers onto clothes and into food and drinking water."

Graphic description to say the least. Much, much, more from Rose's book, and well worth the read, previewed HERE in the Slate Magazine last month, in which is the quote:

"Sanitation is more important than independence."

Mahatma Ghandi