Offering Otherworld options...

Tonight is Halloween, Hallowe'en, All Hallows' e'en, All Hallows’ Eve, All Saints’ Eve...etc.

Halloween is a secular festival but has pagan roots and, as per many such festivals, coincides with the 'newer' Christian celebrations; it has at least some roots in the Celtic festival of Samhain: the Gaels believed that this night was when the border between this world and the otherworld was at its narrowest; they would walk, with their livestock between fires and the bones of slaughtered livestock were cast into its flames: bonefires (bonfires).

With the introduction of Christianity it became associated with All Saints' Day and, not by coincidence, on this very day Martin Luther began what became The Reformation and offered millions an otherworld option...I don't think he meant such a great shake up, he was just pissed off with the wealth of the Catholic Church and the 'greed' involved in sins being 'paid off' with indulgences...

"Why does the pope, whose wealth today is greater than the wealth of the richest Crassus, build the basilica of St. Peter with the money of poor believers rather than with his own money?"

Well, hard to believe that was written nearly 500 years ago! All Saints' Eve of course leads to All Saints' Day on November 1st and November 2nd is All Souls' Day (or Day of the Dead as most Latin Americans call it, after celebrating the living on Nov 1st). The latter of these festivals celebrates one's forebears - with family reunions and visits to and care of ancestors' grave sites - and pre-date Christianity by many centuries.

Even Trick or Treat has evolved: much as many like to "blame it on yanks" it has made a come back to Europe from whence it came! On Halloween children would go from door to door asking for "soul cakes" in return for prayers for the dead (souling) and in a similar vein: the practice of "mumming" dressing up, singing, and making mischief on Hallows Eve.

It continues to evolve: a group of children just rang at the door and asked me "nos da caramelos?"..."you'll give us some sweets?"...well, direct and to the point!

Offering Otherworld options...

Tonight is Halloween, Hallowe'en, All Hallows' e'en, All Hallows’ Eve, All Saints’ Eve...etc.

Halloween is a secular festival but has pagan roots and, as per many such festivals, coincides with the 'newer' Christian celebrations; it has at least some roots in the Celtic festival of Samhain: the Gaels believed that this night was when the border between this world and the otherworld was at its narrowest; they would walk, with their livestock between fires and the bones of slaughtered livestock were cast into its flames: bonefires (bonfires).

With the introduction of Christianity it became associated with All Saints' Day and, not by coincidence, on this very day Martin Luther began what became The Reformation and offered millions an otherworld option...I don't think he meant such a great shake up, he was just pissed off with the wealth of the Catholic Church and the 'greed' involved in sins being 'paid off' with indulgences...

"Why does the pope, whose wealth today is greater than the wealth of the richest Crassus, build the basilica of St. Peter with the money of poor believers rather than with his own money?"

Well, hard to believe that was written nearly 500 years ago! All Saints' Eve of course leads to All Saints' Day on November 1st and November 2nd is All Souls' Day (or Day of the Dead as most Latin Americans call it, after celebrating the living on Nov 1st). The latter of these festivals celebrates one's forebears - with family reunions and visits to and care of ancestors' grave sites - and pre-date Christianity by many centuries.

Even Trick or Treat has evolved: much as many like to "blame it on yanks" it has made a come back to Europe from whence it came! On Halloween children would go from door to door asking for "soul cakes" in return for prayers for the dead (souling) and in a similar vein: the practice of "mumming" dressing up, singing, and making mischief on Hallows Eve.

It continues to evolve: a group of children just rang at the door and asked me "nos da caramelos?"..."you'll give us some sweets?"...well, direct and to the point!

Opium officer ousted...

Professor David Nutt the UK's chief drugs adviser has been sacked after earlier today accusing government ministers of devaluing and distorting evidence! [shock horror...no surprise, would government ministers do that?] He also said the drugs classification system was being used in a "political way", so Labour Home Secretary Alan Johnson ousted him from the post (Nutt had been critical of the decision to upgrade the classification of cannabis). What a hash; or what a dope? What do you think, was this a good idea? Keep off the grass!

Update: Nutt nuts nutty Brown.

Opium officer ousted...

Professor David Nutt the UK's chief drugs adviser has been sacked after earlier today accusing government ministers of devaluing and distorting evidence! [shock horror...no surprise, would government ministers do that?] He also said the drugs classification system was being used in a "political way", so Labour Home Secretary Alan Johnson ousted him from the post (Nutt had been critical of the decision to upgrade the classification of cannabis). What a hash; or what a dope? What do you think, was this a good idea? Keep off the grass!

Update: Nutt nuts nutty Brown.

Oratio obliqua of one Oxfordshire opinion on outrageous oration...

...or, to put it another way, I report below the blogpost of a Geek in Oxfordshire who gives his own opinion on Lord Stern's ridiculous statement telling us that we should give up eating meat in order to save the planet, "Direct emissions of methane from cows and pigs is a significant source of greenhouse gases. Methane is 23 times more powerful than carbon dioxide as a global warming gas." I suspect that to save the planet we just need to stop deforestation, which is responsible for upward of 20% of global carbon emissions. Anyway, re methane...they have to say this when awkward facts are pointed out like the most major greenhouse gas, by far, is water vapour, with CO2 about 30% of the water vapor total (not the overall total). Admittedly the 3rd worst offender is methane; the "23 times more powerful" merely means that methane is 23 times more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide but he fails to mention it accounts for less than 10% (some say less than 5%) of 'global warming'.

Well, anyway, I agree with Geek and his ideal solution: Eat Your Greens!

"I am calling for environmental campaigners to become as socially-unacceptable as wife-beaters (there, do you see how easy the emotive link is?). And I think the best way to solve all the crises of the planet is to kill and eat anyone who bleats on about lowering carbon emissions, getting rid of airliners, or taxing whatever it is they don't agree with in the name of the environment."

Oratio obliqua of one Oxfordshire opinion on outrageous oration...

...or, to put it another way, I report below the blogpost of a Geek in Oxfordshire who gives his own opinion on Lord Stern's ridiculous statement telling us that we should give up eating meat in order to save the planet, "Direct emissions of methane from cows and pigs is a significant source of greenhouse gases. Methane is 23 times more powerful than carbon dioxide as a global warming gas." Etc...they have to say this when awkward facts are pointed out like the Amazon Rainforest alone producing twenty times more carbon dioxide in any one year period than all of mankind put together and that the major greenhouse gas, by far, is water vapour, with CO2 about 30% of the water vapor total (not the overall total). Admittedly the 3rd worst offender is methane; the "23 times more powerful" merely means that methane is 23 times more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide but he fails to mention it accounts for less than 10% (some say less than 5%) of 'global warming'.

Well, anyway, I agree with Geek and his ideal solution: Eat Your Greens!

"I am calling for environmental campaigners to become as socially-unacceptable as wife-beaters (there, do you see how easy the emotive link is?). And I think the best way to solve all the crises of the planet is to kill and eat anyone who bleats on about lowering carbon emissions, getting rid of airliners, or taxing whatever it is they don't agree with in the name of the environment."

Ongoing opening of Office Outlook...

...and I don't mean it taking ages to sort itself out and settle down every time you open it! Microsoft has announced plans to open up the format of the data files used by its e-mail program Outlook, says the BBC. Paul Lorimer, Group Manager, Microsoft Office Interoperability said "In order to facilitate interoperability and enable customers and vendors to access the data in .pst files on a variety of platforms, we will be releasing documentation for the .pst file format. This will allow developers to read, create, and interoperate with the data in .pst files in server and client scenarios using the programming language and platform of their choice"... 'The platform of their choice'...hmmm, yes, could have used that a while ago.

Open Office, "The Free and Open Productivity Suite" now enjoying it's 9th birthday is good and does a reasonable job of being an Office alternative but there was never any real competition for Microsoft Outlook, many alternatives but none that came close except maybe Mozilla's Thunderbird. This is progress from last year when Chris Caposella wrote of "Microsoft’s Commitment to Document Format Interoperability". Continued progress.

Ongoing opening of Office Outlook...

...and I don't mean it taking ages to sort itself out and settle down every time you open it! Microsoft has announced plans to open up the format of the data files used by its e-mail program Outlook, says the BBC. Paul Lorimer, Group Manager, Microsoft Office Interoperability said "In order to facilitate interoperability and enable customers and vendors to access the data in .pst files on a variety of platforms, we will be releasing documentation for the .pst file format. This will allow developers to read, create, and interoperate with the data in .pst files in server and client scenarios using the programming language and platform of their choice"... 'The platform of their choice'...hmmm, yes, could have used that a while ago.

Open Office, "The Free and Open Productivity Suite" now enjoying it's 9th birthday is good and does a reasonable job of being an Office alternative but there was never any real competition for Microsoft Outlook, many alternatives but none that came close except maybe Mozilla's Thunderbird. This is progress from last year when Chris Caposella wrote of "Microsoft’s Commitment to Document Format Interoperability". Continued progress.

Ogmundsson out of onions...

Clearly these two beauties haven't been told yet but McDonald's will close its business in the land of natural wonders: waterfalls, glaciers, lava fields, iceberg-laden lakes, windswept tundras and Geysir (the original hot-water spout after which all other geysers around the world are named): Iceland.

The omnipresent fast food giant apparently has no plans to return after it closes the three outlets in Iceland, franchises run by Lyst (owned by Jon Gardar Ogmundsson) and closed because "the country's financial crisis has made it too expensive to operate its franchise". Like many businesses, the restaurants had never been busier but "at the same time profits have never been lower" said Mr Ogmundsson, adding:

"It just makes no sense. For a kilo of onion, imported from Germany, I'm paying the equivalent of a bottle of good whisky"

[BBC Link]

Photo credit: Holger Leue/Lonely Planet

Ogmundsson out of onions...

Clearly these two beauties haven't been told yet but McDonald's will close its business in the land of natural wonders: waterfalls, glaciers, lava fields, iceberg-laden lakes, windswept tundras and Geysir (the original hot-water spout after which all other geysers around the world are named): Iceland.

The omnipresent fast food giant apparently has no plans to return after it closes the three outlets in Iceland, franchises run by Lyst (owned by Jon Gardar Ogmundsson) and closed because "the country's financial crisis has made it too expensive to operate its franchise". Like many businesses, the restaurants had never been busier but "at the same time profits have never been lower" said Mr Ogmundsson, adding:

"It just makes no sense. For a kilo of onion, imported from Germany, I'm paying the equivalent of a bottle of good whisky"

[BBC Link]

Photo credit: Holger Leue/Lonely Planet

Obvious obfuscation...

Good old Gordon: he realised his mistake and admitted it and now says his Darling Chancellor was right [about coming out of recession at the end of the year; his optimistic growth forecasts aren't so credible] and that he Brown now agrees with what Darling said 6 months ago...oops, just woke up... No, of course Gordon didn't say that, he just ignored everything he'd said before* and VOWED that HE would restore growth by the end of this year. So, no change there then, anything bad is ignored and nothing to do with him, and anything good is his doing. How quaint...I shall never forget what Gavin Corder told us, "I thought you might like to know that quaint once meant cunt."

*Brown told the BBC's Andrew Marr show on 27 September: "I think you'll see figures pretty soon that shows the action that Britain is taking yielding effect … There's a suspended judgment as people see us coming out of the recessions." [Guardian]

Obvious obfuscation...

Good old Gordon: he realised his mistake and admitted it and now says his Darling Chancellor was right [about coming out of recession at the end of the year; his optimistic growth forecasts aren't so credible] and that he Brown now agrees with what Darling said 6 months ago...oops, just woke up... No, of course Gordon didn't say that, he just ignored everything he'd said before* and VOWED that HE would restore growth by the end of this year. So, no change there then, anything bad is ignored and nothing to do with him, and anything good is his doing. How quaint...I shall never forget what Gavin Corder told us, "I thought you might like to know that quaint once meant cunt."

*Brown told the BBC's Andrew Marr show on 27 September: "I think you'll see figures pretty soon that shows the action that Britain is taking yielding effect … There's a suspended judgment as people see us coming out of the recessions." [Guardian]

Outing outright obloquy...

obloquy n. - abuse; disgrace.

The increasingly useless and polemic UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband is really becoming a complete pain ['Useless' because he is useless, patently so...and 'polemic' because of his current insistently repeated (and utterly wrong) view of the Conservatives Euro allies]. He is now accusing the public of climate change apathy...he and his brother, Ed Miliband, the Climate Change Secretary (I get very suspicious of any family with multiple members in power, especially when you hear one being lined up for even more power, in the EU in this case) are using scare tactics of claims of water and food shortages, mass migration and conflict etc (all of those are already a reality for many people and have nothing to do with climate change) after it was revealed that "only 18 per cent of people believed that climate change would affect their children."

That's all well and good but the apathy seems to be from the Milibands and their Labour cohorts because only yesterday they had a chance to put their proverbial personal money where their mouths are...and decided they didn't need to make the effort: "A move to force the government to sign up to the 10:10 campaign and cut greenhouse gas emissions from its estate and the public sector by 10% in 2010 was defeated in the Commons."

"After the vote, Greg Clark, Tory shadow energy minister, said: "It is disappointing the government felt it had to vote down an eminently sensible bill. The scale of the task is such that we need precisely these kinds of measures." During the debate, Simon Hughes, the Lib Dem climate change spokesman, said: "This is a bad day for parliament, Labour and the planet," adding that it was particularly damaging ahead of talks in Copenhagen's to strike a deal on climate change."

One sure way of making the people less apathetic is to stop lying, stop pushing an agenda, stop taxing them for your stupid little plans etc and, at the LEAST, lead by example! Ivan Joseph puts it better than I could! I hope he doesn't mind me repeating what he wrote in the comments of the Times article:

"Maybe the public would be less apathetic if we didn’t feel we were being railroaded by the establishments "hands over the ears, eyes closed were all doomed policy"! There are many eminent climatologists and scientists with opposing views regarding "Climate Change" but their denial of access to the "mainstream media" is virtually total! We are fed the line that the science is settled, when there are countless reputable scientists and climatologists producing work that says it isn't! Al Gore's film "The inconvenient Truth" is accepted by the political establishment as the "Holy Grail" and yet when the government attempted to have it shown in every school and was challenged in court, Judge Michael Burton (quote) refused to sanction it, unless the "serious scientific inaccuracies, "political propaganda" and "sentimental mush" were explained at screenings! Dr David Bellamy used to be the country’s favourite “Environmentalist”, regularly popping up on our TV screens, quoted in newspapers and scientific journals etc. Why don’t we hear from him anymore, he’s still very much alive, you’ve guessed it! He apposes the establishment’s view! Just give us an honest balanced view so we can decide if we are being ripped off or not!"

FUCKING A!

Outing outright obloquy...

obloquy n. - abuse; disgrace.

The increasingly useless and polemic UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband is really becoming a complete pain ['Useless' because he is useless, patently so...and 'polemic' because of his current insistently repeated (and utterly wrong) view of the Conservatives Euro allies]. He is now accusing the public of climate change apathy...he and his brother, Ed Miliband, the Climate Change Secretary (I get very suspicious of any family with multiple members in power, especially when you hear one being lined up for even more power, in the EU in this case) are using scare tactics of claims of water and food shortages, mass migration and conflict etc (all of those are already a reality for many people and have nothing to do with climate change) after it was revealed that "only 18 per cent of people believed that climate change would affect their children."

That's all well and good but the apathy seems to be from the Milibands and their Labour cohorts because only yesterday they had a chance to put their proverbial personal money where their mouths are...and decided they didn't need to make the effort: "A move to force the government to sign up to the 10:10 campaign and cut greenhouse gas emissions from its estate and the public sector by 10% in 2010 was defeated in the Commons."

"After the vote, Greg Clark, Tory shadow energy minister, said: "It is disappointing the government felt it had to vote down an eminently sensible bill. The scale of the task is such that we need precisely these kinds of measures." During the debate, Simon Hughes, the Lib Dem climate change spokesman, said: "This is a bad day for parliament, Labour and the planet," adding that it was particularly damaging ahead of talks in Copenhagen's to strike a deal on climate change."

One sure way of making the people less apathetic is to stop lying, stop pushing an agenda, stop taxing them for your stupid little plans etc and, at the LEAST, lead by example! Ivan Joseph puts it better than I could! I hope he doesn't mind me repeating what he wrote in the comments of the Times article:

"Maybe the public would be less apathetic if we didn’t feel we were being railroaded by the establishments "hands over the ears, eyes closed were all doomed policy"! There are many eminent climatologists and scientists with opposing views regarding "Climate Change" but their denial of access to the "mainstream media" is virtually total! We are fed the line that the science is settled, when there are countless reputable scientists and climatologists producing work that says it isn't! Al Gore's film "The inconvenient Truth" is accepted by the political establishment as the "Holy Grail" and yet when the government attempted to have it shown in every school and was challenged in court, Judge Michael Burton (quote) refused to sanction it, unless the "serious scientific inaccuracies, "political propaganda" and "sentimental mush" were explained at screenings! Dr David Bellamy used to be the country’s favourite “Environmentalist”, regularly popping up on our TV screens, quoted in newspapers and scientific journals etc. Why don’t we hear from him anymore, he’s still very much alive, you’ve guessed it! He apposes the establishment’s view! Just give us an honest balanced view so we can decide if we are being ripped off or not!"

FUCKING A!

Ominous offensive on opposing Obama...

The man is making a mistake; or at least his team is: it is not new news that Obama has problems with Fox News, you may call them his bête noire (are we allowed to say that?) but the offensive is getting more pronounced and more sinister: so a news network doesn't like the President or what he's doing? Big deal, but no, it's not even that bad: Fox News are not lying or inventing stuff or even being that rude, they are just making sure Team Obama knows what a lot a people think. The fact that him and his team have problems with that - AND are taking measures to stop it - seems to me rather sinister. It is only one network and in the UK we have a very good example of what happens when a "pretty", good on camera, sharp dressed, grining, all-things-to-all-men, performing seal is allowed a prolonged 'media honeymoon'.

The latest and strongest very public assault on Fox News began about two weeks ago when White House Communications Director Anita Dunn used a CNN interview to accuse Fox of being a "wing of the Republican Party." Hugo Chavez springs to mind. Nobody seemed to cry out when there was cringingly embarrassing, totally bias, obsequious bum-licking coverage of Obamessiah during the election campaign (you know who you are)

"A lot of their news programming, it's really not news. It's pushing a point of view," senior adviser David Axelrod said on ABC's "This Week."

"The way we -- the president looks at it and we look at it, is, it is not a news organization so much as it has a perspective," White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel added on CNN's "State of the Union."

Worth adding that although Fox News has won the cable news ratings war for many years (it is close to network news viewing figures) both Axelrod and Emanuel (quoted above) have encouraged other news outlets to not treat Fox News as a news organization...laughable. What wankers. Rule of thumb, when anyone trys to stop you pushing a particular political point of view you know there's lots of reasons to push it even more.

Ominous offensive on opposing Obama...

The man is making a mistake; or at least his team is: it is not new news that Obama has problems with Fox News, you may call them his bête noire (are we allowed to say that?) but the offensive is getting more pronounced and more sinister: so a news network doesn't like the President or what he's doing? Big deal, but no, it's not even that bad: Fox News are not lying or inventing stuff or even being that rude, they are just making sure Team Obama knows what a lot a people think. The fact that him and his team have problems with that - AND are taking measures to stop it - seems to me rather sinister. It is only one network and in the UK we have a very good example of what happens when a "pretty", good on camera, sharp dressed, grining, all-things-to-all-men, performing seal is allowed a prolonged 'media honeymoon'.

The latest and strongest very public assault on Fox News began about two weeks ago when White House Communications Director Anita Dunn used a CNN interview to accuse Fox of being a "wing of the Republican Party." Hugo Chavez springs to mind. Nobody seemed to cry out when there was cringingly embarrassing, totally bias, obsequious bum-licking coverage of Obamessiah during the election campaign (you know who you are)

"A lot of their news programming, it's really not news. It's pushing a point of view," senior adviser David Axelrod said on ABC's "This Week."

"The way we -- the president looks at it and we look at it, is, it is not a news organization so much as it has a perspective," White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel added on CNN's "State of the Union."

Worth adding that although Fox News has won the cable news ratings war for many years (it is close to network news viewing figures) both Axelrod and Emanuel (quoted above) have encouraged other news outlets to not treat Fox News as a news organization...laughable. What wankers. Rule of thumb, when anyone trys to stop you pushing a particular political point of view you know there's lots of reasons to push it even more.

Obvious obligations II...

World Food Day is celebrated every year on 16 October – the date of the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization [FAO]. Despite the progress and work of scientists saving millions of lives - like Norman Borlaug, the man who fed the world, who passed away last month - hundreds of millions of people still go hungry, mainly because now famines "are politically induced events, not true natural disasters", or very rarely.

Most of us don't know how lucky we are; or maybe we do but if we know we don't appreciate it.

"With an estimated increase of 105 million hungry people in 2009, there are now 1.02 billion malnourished people in the world, meaning that almost one sixth of all humanity is suffering from hunger."

The World Food Programme (WFP), sister to the FAO, is the United Nations frontline agency aimed at reducing the worldwide hunger that afflicts one in six people on earth. HERE'S what they did last year alone.

Obvious obligations II...

World Food Day is celebrated every year on 16 October – the date of the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization [FAO]. Despite the progress and work of scientists saving millions of lives - like Norman Borlaug, the man who fed the world, who passed away last month - hundreds of millions of people still go hungry, mainly because now famines "are politically induced events, not true natural disasters", or very rarely.

Most of us don't know how lucky we are; or maybe we do but if we know we don't appreciate it.

"With an estimated increase of 105 million hungry people in 2009, there are now 1.02 billion malnourished people in the world, meaning that almost one sixth of all humanity is suffering from hunger."

The World Food Programme (WFP), sister to the FAO, is the United Nations frontline agency aimed at reducing the worldwide hunger that afflicts one in six people on earth. HERE'S what they did last year alone.

Ongoing offering option...

[Edit: 'dead' image removed] Click HERE [Turn left for yard sale] click on the image to go to the Number 10 website and read about and watch Gordon Brown speaking in the City this morning. The man inspires no confidence whatsoever. Elsewhere: "The expected announcement today of the privatisation of £16 Bn assets owned by the Government is reckless and irresponsible..." I'll say so! Although it is a miniscule amount when considering the debt mountain and as Charlie Elphicke, on Tory Diary at Conservative Home, goes on to mention

"...we are all too keenly aware of his scorched earth policy which will see Britain's finances shredded ahead of a possible change in Government next year. We are witnessing an extension of Brown's scorched earth policy. This firesale is not in the national interest."

I agree but should the Conservatives be saying that the sale was "probably necessary"? Maybe but they should, as they have history, but also as they are the ones who are likely to be being stuck with this sell-off from 2010 but they should be sticking the boot in more and reminding the electorate just WHY this is "probably necessary" to do. That said it's a drop in the ocean when looking at the tsumani of borrowing that is forecast and the already high debt built up over Prudence's tenure. "Let's put that [16 billion] in perspective." writes Iain Dale,

The budget deficit in August was £16.1bn!

David Cameron said: "So, we've still got to get to grips with public spending, get to grips with the deficit - and we must make sure we get good value for money." Remember the gold sales and as Vince Cable has pointed out about this is that the government are "proposing to sell off in very depressed markets", no change there then. According to the BBC Margaret Eaton (chairman Local Government Association) said she "was amazed the announcement had been made without consulting her organisation." Hmmm, well actually all this has been announced before anyway, a usual New Labour - and especially Gordon Brown - ploy: the sale of the Tote was a 2001 Labour manifesto pledge, Labour failed to sell its shares in Urenco in 2007. The Dartford Crossing sale was announced earlier this year as was the sale of the Student Loan Book, David Lammy said in the House on the 12th March this year:

"The Government still intend to make sales from the student loan book, but it is clear that that should be done only when we can get a good return for the taxpayer. For the time being, the market conditions do not allow that, but we will actively look to identify opportunities for a sale that represents value for money as market conditions improve."

Thanks to Tim on the Conservative Home for these comments (22:02 in the second link)

Ongoing offering option...

Turn left for yard sale; click on the image to go to the Number 10 website and read about and watch Gordon Brown speaking in the City this morning. The man inspires no confidence whatsoever. Elsewhere: "The expected announcement today of the privatisation of £16 Bn assets owned by the Government is reckless and irresponsible..." I'll say so! Although it is a miniscule amount when considering the debt mountain and as Charlie Elphicke, on Tory Diary at Conservative Home, goes on to mention

"...we are all too keenly aware of his scorched earth policy which will see Britain's finances shredded ahead of a possible change in Government next year. We are witnessing an extension of Brown's scorched earth policy. This firesale is not in the national interest."

I agree but should the Conservatives be saying that the sale was "probably necessary"? Maybe but they should, as they have history, but also as they are the ones who are likely to be being stuck with this sell-off from 2010 but they should be sticking the boot in more and reminding the electorate just WHY this is "probably necessary" to do. That said it's a drop in the ocean when looking at the tsumani of borrowing that is forecast and the already high debt built up over Prudence's tenure. "Let's put that [16 billion] in perspective." writes Iain Dale,

The budget deficit in August was £16.1bn!

David Cameron said: "So, we've still got to get to grips with public spending, get to grips with the deficit - and we must make sure we get good value for money." Remember the gold sales and as Vince Cable has pointed out about this is that the government are "proposing to sell off in very depressed markets", no change there then. According to the BBC Margaret Eaton (chairman Local Government Association) said she "was amazed the announcement had been made without consulting her organisation." Hmmm, well actually all this has been announced before anyway, a usual New Labour - and especially Gordon Brown - ploy: the sale of the Tote was a 2001 Labour manifesto pledge, Labour failed to sell its shares in Urenco in 2007. The Dartford Crossing sale was announced earlier this year as was the sale of the Student Loan Book, David Lammy said in the House on the 12th March this year:

"The Government still intend to make sales from the student loan book, but it is clear that that should be done only when we can get a good return for the taxpayer. For the time being, the market conditions do not allow that, but we will actively look to identify opportunities for a sale that represents value for money as market conditions improve."

Thanks to Tim on the Conservative Home for these comments (22:02 in the second link)

Ongoing offering option...

Turn left for yard sale; click on the image to go to the Number 10 website and read about and watch Gordon Brown speaking in the City this morning. The man inspires no confidence whatsoever. Elsewhere: "The expected announcement today of the privatisation of £16 Bn assets owned by the Government is reckless and irresponsible..." I'll say so! Although it is a miniscule amount when considering the debt mountain and as Charlie Elphicke, on Tory Diary at Conservative Home, goes on to mention

"...we are all too keenly aware of his scorched earth policy which will see Britain's finances shredded ahead of a possible change in Government next year. We are witnessing an extension of Brown's scorched earth policy. This firesale is not in the national interest."

I agree but should the Conservatives be saying that the sale was "probably necessary"? Maybe but they should, as they have history, but also as they are the ones who are likely to be being stuck with this sell-off from 2010 but they should be sticking the boot in more and reminding the electorate just WHY this is "probably necessary" to do. That said it's a drop in the ocean when looking at the tsumani of borrowing that is forecast and the already high debt built up over Prudence's tenure. "Let's put that [16 billion] in perspective." writes Iain Dale,

The budget deficit in August was £16.1bn!

David Cameron said: "So, we've still got to get to grips with public spending, get to grips with the deficit - and we must make sure we get good value for money." Remember the gold sales and as Vince Cable has pointed out about this is that the government are "proposing to sell off in very depressed markets", no change there then. According to the BBC Margaret Eaton (chairman Local Government Association) said she "was amazed the announcement had been made without consulting her organisation." Hmmm, well actually all this has been announced before anyway, a usual New Labour - and especially Gordon Brown - ploy: the sale of the Tote was a 2001 Labour manifesto pledge, Labour failed to sell its shares in Urenco in 2007. The Dartford Crossing sale was announced earlier this year as was the sale of the Student Loan Book, David Lammy said in the House on the 12th March this year:

"The Government still intend to make sales from the student loan book, but it is clear that that should be done only when we can get a good return for the taxpayer. For the time being, the market conditions do not allow that, but we will actively look to identify opportunities for a sale that represents value for money as market conditions improve."

Thanks to Tim on the Conservative Home for these comments (22:02 in the second link)

Obambulating Ows observing opiparous one-off...

Well maybe some football geek can tell me if this IS actually a one-off or not (albeit not ruling out the future) or am I deluding myself and it happens every few years! I do believe this is the first time that there are 8 (EIGHT!) teams in with a real shout of qualifying for the 2010 football World Cup. Only Brazil and Paraguay are already qualified with the chasing Chile needing only a point to be through, albeit not in the 3rd place they currently hold though, but a win today would guarantee them that spot. Then there are 5 more teams who could theoretically take the 4th spot or get 5th and go on to the play-offs; see table HERE. And then HERE is a good little write-up of the 3 key games this afternoon..."Final Spots Up For Grabs"

Venezuela (currently 7th with 21 points) vs Paraguay (2nd, 30 points)
Ecuador (4th, 23 points) vs Uruguay (6th, 21 points)
Colombia (8th, 20 points) vs Chile (3rd, 27 points)

I'm in Guayaquil for the Ecuador vs. Uruguay match although the game is in Quito later (where I was this morning!) the Uruguayan team were still here...the Ecuatorians have got a psychological boost already due to the Uruguayan team having their kit stolen! [Goal.com]

"This is arguably the most important match on the continent this weekend."

Update: well, it's set up for a thriller, as these things often are: Venezuela lost to Paraguay 1 - 2 so are out of contention and Paraguay 2nd to Brazil only on goal difference (a BIG difference); Chile fought off Colombia 2 - 4 and so claim 3rd overall with a final game against Ecuador who lost 1 - 2 with the last (controversial penalty) kick of the game against Uruguay; an undeserved loss for Ecuador IMHO as for the first half and most of the 2nd it was like Man Utd vs. Wimbledon. On Wednesday if Uruguay beat Argentina they claim the 4th and last automatic qualifying spot whilst Argentina will take 5th...a win for Argentina or a draw and those positions are reversed...BUT, still in with a mathematical chance is Ecuador who, if they win can claim that 5th spot and a chance in a play-off; if they win by 5 (!!!) they could even claim 4th IF the other two draw.

Obambulating Ows observing opiparous one-off...

Well maybe some football geek can tell me if this IS actually a one-off or not (albeit not ruling out the future) or am I deluding myself and it happens every few years! I do believe this is the first time that there are 8 (EIGHT!) teams in with a real shout of qualifying for the 2010 football World Cup. Only Brazil and Paraguay are already qualified with the chasing Chile needing only a point to be through, albeit not in the 3rd place they currently hold though, but a win today would guarantee them that spot. Then there are 5 more teams who could theoretically take the 4th spot or get 5th and go on to the play-offs; see table HERE. And then HERE is a good little write-up of the 3 key games this afternoon..."Final Spots Up For Grabs"

Venezuela (currently 7th with 21 points) vs Paraguay (2nd, 30 points)
Ecuador (4th, 23 points) vs Uruguay (6th, 21 points)
Colombia (8th, 20 points) vs Chile (3rd, 27 points)

I'm in Guayaquil for the Ecuador vs. Uruguay match although the game is in Quito later (where I was this morning!) the Uruguayan team were still here...the Ecuatorians have got a psychological boost already due to the Uruguayan team having their kit stolen! [Goal.com]

"This is arguably the most important match on the continent this weekend."

Update: well, it's set up for a thriller, as these things often are: Venezuela lost to Paraguay 1 - 2 so are out of contention and Paraguay 2nd to Brazil only on goal difference (a BIG difference); Chile fought off Colombia 2 - 4 and so claim 3rd overall with a final game against Ecuador who lost 1 - 2 with the last (controversial penalty) kick of the game against Uruguay; an undeserved loss for Ecuador IMHO as for the first half and most of the 2nd it was like Man Utd vs. Wimbledon. On Wednesday if Uruguay beat Argentina they claim the 4th and last automatic qualifying spot whilst Argentina will take 5th...a win for Argentina or a draw and those positions are reversed...BUT, still in with a mathematical chance is Ecuador who, if they win can claim that 5th spot and a chance in a play-off; if they win by 5 (!!!) they could even claim 4th IF the other two draw.

Obama's odd obsession...

The laureate for the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize has gone to Barack Obama: "for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples". [BBC] Seems a bit odd and I suspect the 'deal-breaker' was his quest for nuclear disarmament: (The Nobel Peace Prizes in 1959, 1962, 1974, 1982, 1985, 1990, 1995 and 2005 were awarded to people and organisations working for nuclear disarmament.) [Nobel]. More political dynamite! (geddit?)

Nearly two years ago I blogged on what I thought was Oslo oration's obvious ommission... when Al Gore was given this prize; I thought that was a poor and politically motivated decision.

I'm no great fan of Obama and whilst this year's prize is more deserved it is still politically motivated IMHO, maybe with Iran and North Korea in mind. However, it certainly can't be said that Obama is jumping on any bandwagons, he has always wanted "a world without nuclear weapons". And from Anne Applebaum (Washington Post and Slate):

"Look at his record: One of the few foreign-policy initiatives to which Obama stuck his name during his brief Senate term was an increase in funding for nuclear nonproliferation."

Why do I think it's a political decision? Well, I find myself a little bemused and echo what Peter Beaumont says in today's Guardian...why now? Obama has been President for less than a year...so maybe it's because he isn't George W Bush!

"The question now is whether having being anointed perhaps too early by the committee, a Nobel prize earned so cheaply and at so little cost will help him in his efforts on the international stage or rather be an albatross around his neck."

Obama's odd obsession...

The laureate for the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize has gone to Barack Obama: "for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples". [BBC] Seems a bit odd and I suspect the 'deal-breaker' was his quest for nuclear disarmament: (The Nobel Peace Prizes in 1959, 1962, 1974, 1982, 1985, 1990, 1995 and 2005 were awarded to people and organisations working for nuclear disarmament.) [Nobel]. More political dynamite! (geddit?)

Nearly two years ago I blogged on what I thought was Oslo oration's obvious ommission... when Al Gore was given this prize; I thought that was a poor and politically motivated decision.

I'm no great fan of Obama and whilst this year's prize is more deserved it is still politically motivated IMHO, maybe with Iran and North Korea in mind. However, it certainly can't be said that Obama is jumping on any bandwagons, he has always wanted "a world without nuclear weapons". And from Anne Applebaum (Washington Post and Slate):

"Look at his record: One of the few foreign-policy initiatives to which Obama stuck his name during his brief Senate term was an increase in funding for nuclear nonproliferation."

Why do I think it's a political decision? Well, I find myself a little bemused and echo what Peter Beaumont says in today's Guardian...why now? Obama has been President for less than a year...so maybe it's because he isn't George W Bush!

"The question now is whether having being anointed perhaps too early by the committee, a Nobel prize earned so cheaply and at so little cost will help him in his efforts on the international stage or rather be an albatross around his neck."

[Edit: 'dead' image removed] Ryan Giggs leaves Manchester United in acrimony, after a highly successful career with many, many highpoints (so many that ANY club supporter that 'hates' ManU [Manure] admits to a grudging admiration and respect)...he "retires"...but then joins a second-string London club playing in the shadow of neighbouring giants; after turning them around to produce a reasonable (but not cup winning) season, he "retires" again only to join Liverpool...who, on an unbeaten winning streak, and with Ryan giving an incredible defence-slicing pass for the winning goal in a 6 - 5 thriller against Chelsea, today meets his old club Manchester United... OK...you noticed, that's not true. BUT it is a reasonable description of what is happening now; I'm watching, live...Monday Night Football. To translate the first paragraph: Brett Favre - the Green Bay Packers star quarterback of 16 years - left, in not-too-amicable circumstances in 2008 and joined the New York Jets,who haven't had a star of No. 4's stature since the days Joe Namath was slinging passes."

"With Favre's 16 prolific years throwing passes for the Packers and departure on bad terms last summer, the intrigue has ratcheted up. It stretches well beyond the Upper Midwest, too."

Brett aided the NYJ from a disasterous 4 - 12 2007 season to a reasonable 9 -7 (and could have been more: a 9 -5 potentially playoff-reaching season ended badly as losing the last two games killed the payoff dream). So...'retirement' again AND...joining the Minnesota Vikings ("next-door" to Green Bay)!! For a cool 12 million dollars a season. "Joined the enemy" ..."revenge" ...although now, after the heat of the moment, Brett agrees he's in it for more than the 2 game possibilities of getting back at his old club. We'll see..."When Brett Favre happens to be the Vikings' new quarterback, the public interest in this rivalry is on the verge of explosion." So says MV linebacker Ben Leber:

"This is probably the most anticipated game I think, for a regular season game, that I've ever been a part of,"

NBC sports.

Update...next day. Well, we weren't let down! "Favre's first game against his former team was all fun for the Minnesota Vikings and all frustration for the Packers, as the graying quarterback kept his cool and connected for three touchdown passes and 271 yards in a 30-23 victory." [link] And it was exciting too, for American Football! A mention in despatches for Jared Allen who made 4 and a half of the EIGHT times that Aaron Rodgers the packers QB was sacked! Just a bit of a giggle but one of the repeated ads during the game was for Famous Dave's Smokin’ Hot Meat and Potatoes! Phnarr phnarr...

Ryan Giggs leaves Manchester United in acrimony, after a highly successful career with many, many highpoints (so many that ANY club supporter that 'hates' ManU [Manure] admits to a grudging admiration and respect)...he "retires"...but then joins a second-string London club playing in the shadow of neighbouring giants; after turning them around to produce a reasonable (but not cup winning) season, he "retires" again only to join Liverpool...who, on an unbeaten winning streak, and with Ryan giving an incredible defence-slicing pass for the winning goal in a 6 - 5 thriller against Chelsea, today meets his old club Manchester United...

OK...you noticed, that's not true. BUT it is a reasonable description of what is happening now; I'm watching, live...Monday Night Football.

To translate the first paragraph: Brett Favre - the Green Bay Packers star quarterback of 16 years - left, in not-too-amicable circumstances in 2008 and joined the New York Jets,who haven't had a star of No. 4's stature since the days Joe Namath was slinging passes."

"With Favre's 16 prolific years throwing passes for the Packers and departure on bad terms last summer, the intrigue has ratcheted up. It stretches well beyond the Upper Midwest, too."

Brett aided the NYJ from a disasterous 4 - 12 2007 season to a reasonable 9 -7 (and could have been more: a 9 -5 potentially playoff-reaching season ended badly as losing the last two games killed the payoff dream). So...'retirement' again AND...joining the Minnesota Vikings ("next-door" to Green Bay)!! For a cool 12 million dollars a season. "Joined the enemy" ..."revenge" ...although now, after the heat of the moment, Brett agrees he's in it for more than the 2 game possibilities of getting back at his old club.

We'll see..."When Brett Favre happens to be the Vikings' new quarterback, the public interest in this rivalry is on the verge of explosion." So says MV linebacker Ben Leber:

"This is probably the most anticipated game I think, for a regular season game, that I've ever been a part of,"

NBC sports.

Update...next day. Well, we weren't let down! "Favre's first game against his former team was all fun for the Minnesota Vikings and all frustration for the Packers, as the graying quarterback kept his cool and connected for three touchdown passes and 271 yards in a 30-23 victory." [link] And it was exciting too, for American Football! A mention in despatches for Jared Allen who made 4 and a half of the EIGHT times that Aaron Rodgers the packers QB was sacked!

Just a bit of a giggle but one of the repeated ads during the game was for Famous Dave's Smokin’ Hot Meat and Potatoes! Phnarr phnarr...

Ryan Giggs leaves Manchester United in acrimony, after a highly successful career with many, many highpoints (so many that ANY club supporter that 'hates' ManU [Manure] admits to a grudging admiration and respect)...he "retires"...but then joins a second-string London club playing in the shadow of neighbouring giants; after turning them around to produce a reasonable (but not cup winning) season, he "retires" again only to join Liverpool...who, on an unbeaten winning streak, and with Ryan giving an incredible defence-slicing pass for the winning goal in a 6 - 5 thriller against Chelsea, today meets his old club Manchester United...

OK...you noticed, that's not true. BUT it is a reasonable description of what is happening now; I'm watching, live...Monday Night Football.

To translate the first paragraph: Brett Favre - the Green Bay Packers star quarterback of 16 years - left, in not-too-amicable circumstances in 2008 and joined the New York Jets,who haven't had a star of No. 4's stature since the days Joe Namath was slinging passes."

"With Favre's 16 prolific years throwing passes for the Packers and departure on bad terms last summer, the intrigue has ratcheted up. It stretches well beyond the Upper Midwest, too."

Brett aided the NYJ from a disasterous 4 - 12 2007 season to a reasonable 9 -7 (and could have been more: a 9 -5 potentially playoff-reaching season ended badly as losing the last two games killed the payoff dream). So...'retirement' again AND...joining the Minnesota Vikings ("next-door" to Green Bay)!! For a cool 12 million dollars a season. "Joined the enemy" ..."revenge" ...although now, after the heat of the moment, Brett agrees he's in it for more than the 2 game possibilities of getting back at his old club.

We'll see..."When Brett Favre happens to be the Vikings' new quarterback, the public interest in this rivalry is on the verge of explosion." So says MV linebacker Ben Leber:

"This is probably the most anticipated game I think, for a regular season game, that I've ever been a part of,"

NBC sports.

Update...next day. Well, we weren't let down! "Favre's first game against his former team was all fun for the Minnesota Vikings and all frustration for the Packers, as the graying quarterback kept his cool and connected for three touchdown passes and 271 yards in a 30-23 victory." [link] And it was exciting too, for American Football! A mention in despatches for Jared Allen who made 4 and a half of the EIGHT times that Aaron Rodgers the packers QB was sacked!

Just a bit of a giggle but one of the repeated ads during the game was for Famous Dave's Smokin’ Hot Meat and Potatoes! Phnarr phnarr...

Olympian ogling...

Not once...

but twice...



Yes twice...

Once will be the Football World Cup in 2014 and then just two years later the Olympic Games will take place in Rio; 120 years after the first modern Games, they will come to South America for the first time: today, IOC members "overwhelmingly bought into Brazil's vision for expanding the Olympic movement into fresh territories and turbocharging economic development."

All the pictures lead to coverage from The Guardian newspaper.

Olympian ogling...

Not once...

but twice...



Yes twice...

Once will be the Football World Cup in 2014 and then just two years later the Olympic Games will take place in Rio; 120 years after the first modern Games, they will come to South America for the first time: today, IOC members "overwhelmingly bought into Brazil's vision for expanding the Olympic movement into fresh territories and turbocharging economic development."

All the pictures lead to coverage from The Guardian newspaper.