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December 14, 2004
Hmmm
This prize is a double-edged sword if ever I saw one. At 12mpg, I can't see the player doing much driving in his boss's Aston Martin.Makes a change from premium rate telephone scams.
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Posted by Clive at 2:55 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Labour Needs Leadership Change
With www.blairmustgo.org comes one of, if not the first on-the-ground anti-Blair campaign in his Sedgefield constituency. They're not the only group taking this approach, and the challenge over the coming months will be to coordinate the various efforts to ensure no dilution of the message or splitting of the opposition vote. And that includes the Conservatives and Lib-Dems as well.Meanwhile www.impeachBlair.org are making slow yet steady progress and need all the support we can give them. It would appear that there is a bit of a split within the Lib-Dems, with the leadership opposed to impeachment in spite of growing pressure from within to throw their weight behind the campaign. It does seem strange that the party most strongly opposed to the War in Iraq should find itself unable to commit to bringing Blair to account.
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Posted by Clive at 11:39 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
War
See, while would appear to be perfectly acceptable to torture Iraqi prisoners, alleged bullying of your own side is totally out of the question. Especially when your conduct involves not a trace of racist, sexist or physical intimidation. --------Posted by Clive at 11:35 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 13, 2004
Missing, Presumed Ignored
So Michael Howard has decided that his successor should be someone young enough to be his son. A laudable sentiment, but strange how the article in the Independant fails to mention Boris Johnson whilst instead focussing on such well-known Conservative luminaries as David Cameron, George Osborne or Mark Field. In fact these three are so well known, I can hear the sound of Google groaning as thousands of Conservatives and non-Conservatives alike try to find out just who the hell they are.Just to help:
David Cameron MP
George Osborne MP
Mark Field MP
Oh, and for completeness:
Boris Johnson MP which shows how it should be done.
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Posted by Clive at 5:17 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Understatement
The Independant - Blunkett's friends 'think he is a mug' over Quinn affair. Personally I thinks they may be trying to save his feelings.... --------Posted by Clive at 5:10 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
A lesson for the Press
A considerable number of pamphlets and documents from the Civil War are to go on display at the British Library. These documents are notable for being the first flowering of a movement which led almost directly to the establishment of the popular press.Could I suggest that the editors of such esteemed publications as The Sun and The Daily Mail might benefit from reading these documents. At the very least they might gain a better understanding of the consequences of their actions. Though thinking of the editorial content of the aforementioned publications, perhaps not.
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Posted by Clive at 5:04 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Lost the plot
It would appear that if this article is correct then the folks in charge at New Line Cinema have lost the plot along with their nerve. One of New Line's projects is a film version of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy, notable for its perceived attack on the Christian Church, though to be more accurate, Pullman is actually taking a pop at the excesses of C. S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia with regards to Christian propoganda (Pullman's opinion).So we have a trilogy of novels which present the Church and the Authority as the enemy in a war spanning multiple worlds. Think of Milton's Paradise Lost with God as the bad guy. Okay, that's all a bit simplistic, but sufficient to help understand why many consider the books to be blasphemous.
So, in an effort to avoid offending religeous people, New Line have asked for all references to God and the church! Now not only will this, in all likelihood, change the whole feel of the films, but it is unlikely to have any positive effect. As far as those who find the books offensive are concerned, watching the film will be lining the pockets of an arch-blasphemer, regardless of any changes made so they're unlikely to watch it. And fans of the books will probably be unimpressed with the rumoured changes, so many of them are unlikely to watch the films either. Net effect is that New Line please no-one.
Now a more sensible option would have been to have gone ahead with the underlying themes unaltered. Not only would that keep the fans happy, but the publicity would probably boost box office takings in much the same way as Monty Python's Life of Brian or The Last Temptation of Christ.
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Posted by Clive at 4:29 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 8, 2004
War
Once again this government has an opportunity to completely ignore a request from influential people. This time it's about the civilian body count in Iraq.46 people including senior military staff, ex-diplomats and bishops have - in a act reminiscent of the letter sent to Blair by 52 diplomats in April - written to Blair urging him to hold an inquiry into civilian deaths in Iraq.
And an inquiry is essential. We have so many varying figures, ranging from the 10,000 casualties quoted by Jack Straw to the 98,000 in the Lancet report. Of course were Britain and the US fulfilling their obligations under international law, this would all be a non-issue as they would have an official, authenticated count. Instead, the abscence of any official figures lends weight to the argument that the Coalition doesn't give a f*#k about the civilian population of Iraq.
And when Jack Straw comes out with statements that the government believes the most accurate data comes from the Iraqi Ministry of Health, then it does nothing for the credibility of democracy amongst Iraqis.
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Posted by Clive at 9:34 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 3, 2004
Election
Well, we've all had a chance to see Gordon Brown's pre-budget report, which seems to be less a statement of fiscal policy and more an opening salvo in an election/leadership campaign.And on the whole, I doubt that it will have much of an impact. It does nothing to address the pensions crisis; does nothing for parents who'd rather look after their children themselves in preference to off-loading them on nurseries, play-groups, etc; only allocates £105 million for fighting terror which kind of puts the lie to all the terror threats the Home Office keeps spouting on about. The Council Tax bribe looks like a good idea, but on the whole it was all a bit of a non-event.
At the end of the day, Blair appears to have decided to make Crime and Terror (whoa, there goes that juxtaposition again) the big issue, so what Gordon appears to be doing is setting his stall for a leadership campaign, rather than a great election giveaway.
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Posted by Clive at 9:52 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Not very useful information
Anyone unfortunate enough to get caught by a speed camera should think very carefully before making their excuses. None of these classic excuses worked, though you've got to admire their inventiveness...A jet over-head, not me, triggered the camera.
or
I had a severe bout of diarrhoea. which to be honest would have me speeding behind a bush for relief rather than driving too fast...
So remember, keep it plausible.
--------Posted by Clive at 9:44 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 2, 2004
Busy, busy, busy
Been busy than a love-struck, randy Home Secretary this week. Chasing clients (and their money), and doing bucket loads of behind the scenes stuff for some interesting developmentsNormal bloggage will be restored next week, and if I get a chance there'll be some more stuff later today and tomorrow.
Hang in there, it's going to be worth it.
Trust. Me.
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Posted by Clive at 10:52 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack