Yank in London
"We have it in our power to begin the world over again"
Tom Paine - Common Sense
"A republic, sir, if you can keep it."
Benjamin Franklin
"War! What is it good for? Absolutely nothing!"
Norman Whitfield / Barrett Strong
occasional musings on politics, culture and life in general from an american in exile
"We have it in our power to begin the world over again"
"A republic, sir, if you can keep it."
"War! What is it good for? Absolutely nothing!"
30 September 2006
Do you want pizza with that?
I don't know about you but to me this headline conjures up images of a seaside vista covered in small, strangely shaped tins.
There's always plenty of volunteers around when a whale beaches itself. I'll betcha nobody turned out for the anchovies.
Oh the humanity!
¶ 16:48:00 1 comments
links to this post
There's always plenty of volunteers around when a whale beaches itself. I'll betcha nobody turned out for the anchovies.
Oh the humanity!
First it was New Labour
Now it's the YouTories.
Today's hot political new, in advance of the Tory party conference next weeks, is that the Conservative Party is going to join the You Tube generation. Tory leader David Cameron is to launch his new video blog
http://www.webcameron.org.uk/. And so the American's won't feel left out the site is going to kick off with a broadcast from everyone's favourite ex-POW Senator John McCain!
In related news we learn that the Tory's also wish to retain their traditional constituency and have the opening of a new campaign centre. It's a bit unclear who's actually footing the bill for their offices in Coleshill Manor set in 200 acres of parkland in the West Midlands. It's an impressive looking Victorian pile that should go over well with the blue rinse brigade.
¶ 16:27:00 0 comments
links to this post
Today's hot political new, in advance of the Tory party conference next weeks, is that the Conservative Party is going to join the You Tube generation. Tory leader David Cameron is to launch his new video blog
http://www.webcameron.org.uk/. And so the American's won't feel left out the site is going to kick off with a broadcast from everyone's favourite ex-POW Senator John McCain!
In related news we learn that the Tory's also wish to retain their traditional constituency and have the opening of a new campaign centre. It's a bit unclear who's actually footing the bill for their offices in Coleshill Manor set in 200 acres of parkland in the West Midlands. It's an impressive looking Victorian pile that should go over well with the blue rinse brigade.
A page boy isn't just a haircut anymore
I was listening to a news report about Representative Foley's disgrace. I can't remember who it was but they were commenting about the programme that the pages worked under and how it was supposed tohelp them learn what "Washington was really like".
Well. Isn't that what they got taught? They had to deal with corrupt men and older sexual predators who used their power and influence to have their way.
Can it get any more real than that?
¶ 16:18:00 6 comments
links to this post
Well. Isn't that what they got taught? They had to deal with corrupt men and older sexual predators who used their power and influence to have their way.
Can it get any more real than that?
Hey look it's Bayer again
First it lets GM rice loose (trying to poison me!) and now it forgot to tell us one of its heart medications causes strokes and death.
Nevermind. I sure they just forgot!
¶ 16:12:00 0 comments
links to this post
Nevermind. I sure they just forgot!
What makes a country?
Usually this is not that difficult a question.
It has a central government. It's recognised by the UN and other treaty organistations. It issues passports.
In some places, however, it's not that simple.
Welcome to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It meets all of the above criteria, right?
However in the world of sports there is now controversy as it seems that Great Britain (Northern Ireland gets forgotten for Olympic purposes) is planning on entering a football team (soccer for the yanks)in the Olympics when they are held in London in 2012.
Doesn't seem like a big deal you say. Well it is!. In football England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland all compete at the international level as countries. The FAs of these "countries" are concerned that this might set a precedent and FIFA might force competition as the UK in the World and European cups. If you've ever been to, or near, an England v. Scotland football match you would understand that this might not be greeted with open arms in all (or indeed any) quarters.
To futher complicate things in Rugby Union England, Wales and Scotland all field their own sides but Northern Irish players compete for the Irish side. (There is considerable difficulty with national anthems!)
In cricket Welsh players are compete as part of England under the aegis of the England and Wales Cricket Board. Scotland has its own, rather pififul team.
Confused yet? Well the folks that live here aren't much help either. If you ask them what their nationality is you will generally be told English, Welsh or Scottish. About the only citizens that define themselves as British are those of African, Carribean or Asian descent and Northern Irish protestants. In one last complication Northern Irish catholics tend to describe themselves as Irish ignoring their citizenship altogether.
¶ 15:52:00 0 comments
links to this post
It has a central government. It's recognised by the UN and other treaty organistations. It issues passports.
In some places, however, it's not that simple.
Welcome to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It meets all of the above criteria, right?
However in the world of sports there is now controversy as it seems that Great Britain (Northern Ireland gets forgotten for Olympic purposes) is planning on entering a football team (soccer for the yanks)in the Olympics when they are held in London in 2012.
Doesn't seem like a big deal you say. Well it is!. In football England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland all compete at the international level as countries. The FAs of these "countries" are concerned that this might set a precedent and FIFA might force competition as the UK in the World and European cups. If you've ever been to, or near, an England v. Scotland football match you would understand that this might not be greeted with open arms in all (or indeed any) quarters.
To futher complicate things in Rugby Union England, Wales and Scotland all field their own sides but Northern Irish players compete for the Irish side. (There is considerable difficulty with national anthems!)
In cricket Welsh players are compete as part of England under the aegis of the England and Wales Cricket Board. Scotland has its own, rather pififul team.
Confused yet? Well the folks that live here aren't much help either. If you ask them what their nationality is you will generally be told English, Welsh or Scottish. About the only citizens that define themselves as British are those of African, Carribean or Asian descent and Northern Irish protestants. In one last complication Northern Irish catholics tend to describe themselves as Irish ignoring their citizenship altogether.
What's wrong with the press? (Chapter 1)
"Bush you are a lying failure and a charlatan"
Couldn't have put it better myself. (Note: I find little else in his message to agree with.)
Video here.
¶ 15:47:00 0 comments
links to this post
Video here.
What's the real GDP....
...and how can it be improved without any pain or suffering?
The Greeks think they know.
Facing an angry reaction from the EU over violating rules for the Eurozone that the budget deficit cannot exceed 3% of GDP the Greeks got clever.
Did they cut spending? No.
Did they raise taxes? No.
I pricture a cabinet meeting going something like this:
How much would US or British GDP jump if we included:
The Greeks think they know.
Facing an angry reaction from the EU over violating rules for the Eurozone that the budget deficit cannot exceed 3% of GDP the Greeks got clever.
Did they cut spending? No.
Did they raise taxes? No.
I pricture a cabinet meeting going something like this:
"Why isn't the black market included in GDP?" said minister one.Et voila. Greek GDP is up over 25% from last year now that the underground economy is included.
"I do not know. It's domestic, it's product and it's often gross" said minister two.
How much would US or British GDP jump if we included:
- Prostitution
- Drug trafficking and retailing
- Illegal weapons trade
- Money laundering
- Illegal gambling (US only)
Rice rage redux
I have previousl waxed poetic over attempts by the American GM industry to poison British rice consumers, of which I count myself one.
Today brings more news on the subject. The world's biggest exporter of rice, Ebro Puleva, has announced that it has stopped trading in US grown rice due to the risks of contamination.
The story so far. Within the last month imports into Britain and elsewhere in the EU tested positive for LLRICE 601, a strain of GM rice developed by Bayer and grown in crop trials between 1998 and 2001 in the US. (20% of imports appear to be affected. EU rice imports from the US total 300,000 tonnes per annum.)
LL601 was never tested for human consumption or environmental impact. Somehow the environmental controls during the limited trials were insufficient to prevent DNA from this strain contaminating other varieties. This by itself warrants immediate investigation and correction!
The reaction from the US government and Bayer? Seek retroactive approval. (Is it just my imagination or is everything retroactive these days?)
Today brings more news on the subject. The world's biggest exporter of rice, Ebro Puleva, has announced that it has stopped trading in US grown rice due to the risks of contamination.
The story so far. Within the last month imports into Britain and elsewhere in the EU tested positive for LLRICE 601, a strain of GM rice developed by Bayer and grown in crop trials between 1998 and 2001 in the US. (20% of imports appear to be affected. EU rice imports from the US total 300,000 tonnes per annum.)
LL601 was never tested for human consumption or environmental impact. Somehow the environmental controls during the limited trials were insufficient to prevent DNA from this strain contaminating other varieties. This by itself warrants immediate investigation and correction!
The reaction from the US government and Bayer? Seek retroactive approval. (Is it just my imagination or is everything retroactive these days?)
In a separate move, the US department of agriculture yesterday said it was helping Bayer to fast track retroactive approval for the rice so it could be consumed by humans.
Arguing that the offending strain is similar to other strains that have already been approved, it has now filed a request for deregulation of the Bayer rice to the US plant health inspection service and prepared an environmental assessment on the company's behalf for a preliminary decision.
(100 - 1 on says that USDA officials and executives of Bayer eat 100% organic!)
I quote the Q&A section of the Guardian article in toto (with emphasis added):
I quote the Q&A section of the Guardian article in toto (with emphasis added):
What is LLRICE 601?
Liberty Link 601 is a strain of long grain rice which contains a gene that makes it resistant to the herbicide Liberty. It was grown as an experiment in five US states between 1998 and 2001 by agrochemical giant Bayer but was never intended for commercial release.
How much contaminated rice has got into the food chain?
The US government says it has no idea, has no way of finding out and cannot predict where it may turn up.
Is it dangerous to health?
It has never been tested or approved for human consumption. But US agriculture secretary Mike Johanns insists the rice is similar to other approved strains and poses no risk to health or the environment.
Let's recap shall we?
The government has no fucking idea where this untested rice is and has no way of finding out!
The government admits that the rice has never been tested but somehow knows there's no risk!
The government doesn't seem to give a fuck!
Something is very, very broken in this process and something needs to be down about it now! (How much money do the Republicans get from rice growers?)
US coverage you ask?
Washington Post? - 1 article in the past month.
New York Times? - big fat zero
Google news? - very little that isn't European or Asian
Excuse me now. I'm off to Sainsbury's to buy all the Italian brown rice they've got!
¶ 14:18:00 0 comments
links to this post
The government has no fucking idea where this untested rice is and has no way of finding out!
The government admits that the rice has never been tested but somehow knows there's no risk!
The government doesn't seem to give a fuck!
Something is very, very broken in this process and something needs to be down about it now! (How much money do the Republicans get from rice growers?)
US coverage you ask?
Washington Post? - 1 article in the past month.
New York Times? - big fat zero
Google news? - very little that isn't European or Asian
Excuse me now. I'm off to Sainsbury's to buy all the Italian brown rice they've got!
I don't know how I missed it!
I was blissfully unaware that last week was Banned Books Week.
I find that I am very disappointed in myself. I've only read fifteen of the hundred most challenged books of 2005. I'd best get cracking.
Where's Waldo is at number 88.
Where's Waldo? WTF?
¶ 13:57:00 0 comments
links to this post
I find that I am very disappointed in myself. I've only read fifteen of the hundred most challenged books of 2005. I'd best get cracking.
Where's Waldo is at number 88.
Where's Waldo? WTF?
Cable Street
The 4th of October will be the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Cable Street. A conflict that arose when Oswald Mosley's British Union of Fascists attempted to march through Stepney in East London. Still a home for immigrants the East End had, at that time, a large Jewish population. The government allowed the march to go ahead despite considerable local opposition. When around 3000 fascists tried to march down predominantly Jewish Cable Street there where 6000 police on hand and somewhere between 300,000 and 500,000 counter protestors.
Violence broke out. The fascists were turned away and had to satisfy themselves with marching through the deserted City of London. The East End erupted in drunken celebration.
One for good guys! Remember it on Wednesday.
¶ 13:35:00 7 comments
links to this post
Violence broke out. The fascists were turned away and had to satisfy themselves with marching through the deserted City of London. The East End erupted in drunken celebration.
One for good guys! Remember it on Wednesday.
America fights back....
...in the war on obesity! American fast food firms seem to be dropping the healthy menus in favour of, well, unadulterated gluttony.
Options include:
Options include:
- Burger King's Quad Stacker - 1,000 calories and a whopping 68 grams of fat - all meat - no salad ("You think I'm fat now pal? Just wait until I finish this!")
- Hardees's Monster Thick Burger - 1420 calories - 107 grams of fat
- Subway's 12-inch Double-Meat Classic Tuna Sub - 1,580 calories - 110 grams of fat
- Denny's Extreme Grand Slam Breakfast - 1,270 calories - 77 grams of fat
- Blimpie's (is it really called Blimpies?) BLT - 1,180 calories - 64 grams of fat
"This burger might better be called the quadruple-bypass special. Fast food like this is great if you're in a hurry -- to die."I guess it's OK for McDonalds to drop the salads then. ¶ 10:49:00 0 comments links to this post
This is how neighbours fall out
In a mad rush to clear up the diary before they rush off to do their real jobs (getting re-elected) the members of the US Senate approved a bill authorising the construction of 700 miles of fencing along the US-Mexican border.
It is only a matter of time before it all goes pear shaped.
Scene: a fine summer's afternoon. The youngest son of the Mexican President is wandering along the border, admiring his work having just finished mowing the lawn, when he notices that the fence just put up by the grumpy family next door seems to be on his family's property. He runs inside and tells his father.
El presidente walks over to the neighbour's front door and rings the bell. His new neighbour a slightly bow legged, graying and grumpy man swaggers to the door and opens it.
The neighbour: "Heh. I'm sorry buddy but we've already got somebody to clean the pool. Have a nice day."
El presidente: "Buenos días señor. I don't wish to bother you but I live next door."
The neighbour: "Hey Laura! You didn't tell me there were spics next door!"
El presidente: "Señor. I see you have built this nice new fence since you've moved in. It even has this nice sign on it saying 'No entrar. Propiedad privada'. It is polite of you to have written it in my language but believe me all of my children understand 'keep out' in English."
The neighbour: "Hey Laura. He speaks spic. Call the nephew will you. I think he understands that shit."
El presidente: "As I said, I don't wish to bother you but I was just noticing that the section of the fence over there, by the river, seems to have been built on my property. I am sure it is just an innocent mistake and that you will be happy to correct it."
The neighbour: Listen here hombre. I don't know who told you I make mistakes because I don't, alright. I'm The Decider(TM) and I decided that's where the fence goes and that's where it stays! Entienda?"
El presidente: "But señor it is only a matter of a few meters. I am sure you had no intention to cheat me. Surely it was just an honest mistake. To be fair I will share the cost with you even though you are much richer than I am. You live in this fine mansion and I only have this humble little shack."
The neighbour: "Yeah. I was meaning to talk to you about that. Your run down little shack is depressing the property values around here. You need to do something about that pronto. And another thing you're kids are always climbing over the fence to come play in my yard. I don't like my little girls being exposed to you kids, OK? They're just innocent young girls. I think your kids have been selling them tequila."
El presidente: "Please señor. There is no need to be rude. I'd hate to have get lawyers involved in all this. We should be able to settle this like gentlemen, no?"
The neighbour: "Lawyers. You want to get lawyers involved. Wait till you meet my lawyer amigo! She was almost on the Supreme Court you know that? Just missed by a whisker. And she's got a friend Alberto. He speaks your language buddy so you won't be able to try any spic shit on me."
El presidente: "I hate to see it come to this. Despedida señor."
The neighbour: "Hasta la vista, baby"
El presidente: "Bastardo de gringo."
The neighbour: "Grease ball! Asshola! Think it's your country? It's my fucking country, damn it! I'm the king of the world!"
El presidente: "Cabrón!" (Exeunt chased by Minuteman)
¶ 10:41:00 0 comments
links to this post
It is only a matter of time before it all goes pear shaped.
Scene: a fine summer's afternoon. The youngest son of the Mexican President is wandering along the border, admiring his work having just finished mowing the lawn, when he notices that the fence just put up by the grumpy family next door seems to be on his family's property. He runs inside and tells his father.
El presidente walks over to the neighbour's front door and rings the bell. His new neighbour a slightly bow legged, graying and grumpy man swaggers to the door and opens it.
The neighbour: "Heh. I'm sorry buddy but we've already got somebody to clean the pool. Have a nice day."
El presidente: "Buenos días señor. I don't wish to bother you but I live next door."
The neighbour: "Hey Laura! You didn't tell me there were spics next door!"
El presidente: "Señor. I see you have built this nice new fence since you've moved in. It even has this nice sign on it saying 'No entrar. Propiedad privada'. It is polite of you to have written it in my language but believe me all of my children understand 'keep out' in English."
The neighbour: "Hey Laura. He speaks spic. Call the nephew will you. I think he understands that shit."
El presidente: "As I said, I don't wish to bother you but I was just noticing that the section of the fence over there, by the river, seems to have been built on my property. I am sure it is just an innocent mistake and that you will be happy to correct it."
The neighbour: Listen here hombre. I don't know who told you I make mistakes because I don't, alright. I'm The Decider(TM) and I decided that's where the fence goes and that's where it stays! Entienda?"
El presidente: "But señor it is only a matter of a few meters. I am sure you had no intention to cheat me. Surely it was just an honest mistake. To be fair I will share the cost with you even though you are much richer than I am. You live in this fine mansion and I only have this humble little shack."
The neighbour: "Yeah. I was meaning to talk to you about that. Your run down little shack is depressing the property values around here. You need to do something about that pronto. And another thing you're kids are always climbing over the fence to come play in my yard. I don't like my little girls being exposed to you kids, OK? They're just innocent young girls. I think your kids have been selling them tequila."
El presidente: "Please señor. There is no need to be rude. I'd hate to have get lawyers involved in all this. We should be able to settle this like gentlemen, no?"
The neighbour: "Lawyers. You want to get lawyers involved. Wait till you meet my lawyer amigo! She was almost on the Supreme Court you know that? Just missed by a whisker. And she's got a friend Alberto. He speaks your language buddy so you won't be able to try any spic shit on me."
El presidente: "I hate to see it come to this. Despedida señor."
The neighbour: "Hasta la vista, baby"
El presidente: "Bastardo de gringo."
The neighbour: "Grease ball! Asshola! Think it's your country? It's my fucking country, damn it! I'm the king of the world!"
El presidente: "Cabrón!" (Exeunt chased by Minuteman)
Headline of the week
Ethnic games tainted by cross-dressing cheats.
What did they expect to happen in women's dragon boat racing?
Even were there weren't cross-dressers involved there was trouble in this week's Ethnic Minority Games in China.
The team from the host city, Zhaotong, brawled with the team from Wenshan city over the result of a wrestling match. Fortunately cooler heads prevaild and the "Wenshan team was eventually chased away by a local gang with blades and sticks called in by the Zhaotong team" Xinhua said.
¶ 10:40:00 0 comments
links to this post
What did they expect to happen in women's dragon boat racing?
Even were there weren't cross-dressers involved there was trouble in this week's Ethnic Minority Games in China.
The team from the host city, Zhaotong, brawled with the team from Wenshan city over the result of a wrestling match. Fortunately cooler heads prevaild and the "Wenshan team was eventually chased away by a local gang with blades and sticks called in by the Zhaotong team" Xinhua said.
The death of the definite article
When I first moved to Britain 13 years ago it took some time to acclimate to the language. Here I was 37 years old and thinking that I had be speaking English all my life only to find out I had been speaking American. There are, of course, a myriad of differences which I shan't be exploring here. There has been more than one
book on the topic with which I cannot even attempt to compete. Living in south London there was the local vernacular to get used to as well.
I do remember having a particular difficulty with the pact that it was common practice to drop the definite article in conjunction with the word hospital. I.E. "he's in hospital". Over time I adjusted and now find it odd when I hear a yank do the opposite. (Note: I was living in the south of England. It was a few years before I got up north where the definite articles seems to be extinct. However, since I had so much difficulty understanding anything this peculiarity didn't stand out.)
Now there seems to be an acceleration in the elimination of the word. Over the past year or so NewLabocrats have been dropping the definite article and have invented a new phrase "fit for purpose" that is used when discussing how fucked up a bit of the bureaucracy is; usually a bit they wish to get rid or "reform".
I was reading an article in the Guardian this morning about the arrest of British online gaming executives in the US and the refusal of the governor of New York to enforce a Louisiana extradition request. In it they are discussing the next steps in the case and say that the executive's attorney will attempt to get the indictment "lifted at source".
Is this the death knell of the "THE"? Should I launch a campaign? The domain name www.savethethe.co.uk is available for only £15. Should I buy it? Wait. www.savethethe.eu is only £10 quid.
What should I do?
¶ 10:11:00 0 comments
links to this post
book on the topic with which I cannot even attempt to compete. Living in south London there was the local vernacular to get used to as well.I do remember having a particular difficulty with the pact that it was common practice to drop the definite article in conjunction with the word hospital. I.E. "he's in hospital". Over time I adjusted and now find it odd when I hear a yank do the opposite. (Note: I was living in the south of England. It was a few years before I got up north where the definite articles seems to be extinct. However, since I had so much difficulty understanding anything this peculiarity didn't stand out.)
Now there seems to be an acceleration in the elimination of the word. Over the past year or so NewLabocrats have been dropping the definite article and have invented a new phrase "fit for purpose" that is used when discussing how fucked up a bit of the bureaucracy is; usually a bit they wish to get rid or "reform".
I was reading an article in the Guardian this morning about the arrest of British online gaming executives in the US and the refusal of the governor of New York to enforce a Louisiana extradition request. In it they are discussing the next steps in the case and say that the executive's attorney will attempt to get the indictment "lifted at source".
Is this the death knell of the "THE"? Should I launch a campaign? The domain name www.savethethe.co.uk is available for only £15. Should I buy it? Wait. www.savethethe.eu is only £10 quid.
What should I do?
Safer than Washington?
Do you remember when our friends on the right kept telling us that things were going so well in Iraq that Baghdad was safer than the nation's capitol? I don't hear that so much these days. Do you reckon this has something to do with it?
800 per week = 115 per day = 4.8 hour = 1 every 12.6 minutes.
¶ 02:05:00 0 comments
links to this post
800 per week = 115 per day = 4.8 hour = 1 every 12.6 minutes.
29 September 2006
Iraq Contracting 101
A Washington Post articled today enlightens us as to the foibles of Parsons Corporation an Iraq contractor so incompentent that they make Halliburtion look expert.
According to the article 13 of the 14 projects with which they were involved are substandard. Their biggest project, construction of the Baghdad Police Academy, has led to the building being declared a health risk "after feces and urine leaked through the ceilings of student barracks". Nice.
In addition to the police academy (contract value 75 million USD) they were also responsible for the construction of 150 health clinics (contract value 243 million USD). Only six of these clinics were ever finished even though 186 million USD were spent. 121 were partially completed. These will be completed by Iraqi contractors for a further 36 million USD.
Do you think they may have had this Police Academy in mind instead?
¶ 17:39:00 0 comments
links to this post
According to the article 13 of the 14 projects with which they were involved are substandard. Their biggest project, construction of the Baghdad Police Academy, has led to the building being declared a health risk "after feces and urine leaked through the ceilings of student barracks". Nice.
In addition to the police academy (contract value 75 million USD) they were also responsible for the construction of 150 health clinics (contract value 243 million USD). Only six of these clinics were ever finished even though 186 million USD were spent. 121 were partially completed. These will be completed by Iraqi contractors for a further 36 million USD.
Do you think they may have had this Police Academy in mind instead?
To my fellow exiles and expatriates
I send you to Unclaimed Territory to read this discussion of why this election is important. It still may not be too late for some of you depending on the state you last lived in. Go to this site for information and assistance.
I hope to vote although I may yet be disenfranchised due to the incompetence of the Mongomery County Board of Elections!
¶ 17:31:00 0 comments
links to this post
I hope to vote although I may yet be disenfranchised due to the incompetence of the Mongomery County Board of Elections!
The planet v the economy - who wins?
President Bush's consistent mantra on the Kyoto Protocol specifically and all things climate change in general is that he will do nothing.
No wait that's not right. He will do nothing that will nothing that will "harm the American economy".
Now those dangerous radicals at extreme left wing, big 4 accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers have issued a "green growth plus" study which suggests that global warming can be addressed at minimal cost to the world's economy, the equivalent of one year's growth over the next forty years. In a further blow to Bush&co's thinking (as well as that of the UK's Labour government) the use of nuclear energy is not critical to the plan. The plan suggests that 60% cuts in emissions are possible by 2050. Big seven economies would cut their emissions significantly but emerging economies, such as China and India, would be allowed modest increases that well below what is predicted for these economies if nothing is done.
I am insufficiently knowledgeable to determine if the cuts go far enough or if the goals are achievable. I do suspect that the Bushniks will resist a plan that allows other economies perceived advantages.
I hope that someone who is capable of this analysis gives this the attention it deserves.
A summary of the report is available here. The full report (pdf) is available here.
No wait that's not right. He will do nothing that will nothing that will "harm the American economy".
Now those dangerous radicals at extreme left wing, big 4 accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers have issued a "green growth plus" study which suggests that global warming can be addressed at minimal cost to the world's economy, the equivalent of one year's growth over the next forty years. In a further blow to Bush&co's thinking (as well as that of the UK's Labour government) the use of nuclear energy is not critical to the plan. The plan suggests that 60% cuts in emissions are possible by 2050. Big seven economies would cut their emissions significantly but emerging economies, such as China and India, would be allowed modest increases that well below what is predicted for these economies if nothing is done.
I am insufficiently knowledgeable to determine if the cuts go far enough or if the goals are achievable. I do suspect that the Bushniks will resist a plan that allows other economies perceived advantages.
I hope that someone who is capable of this analysis gives this the attention it deserves.
A summary of the report is available here. The full report (pdf) is available here.
(It should be noted that the report was issued by PricewaterhouseCoopers UK rather than by the US office.)
¶ 16:41:00 0 comments
links to this post
Don't call me, I'll call you
President Bush of the US, President Karzai of Afghanistan and President General Musharraf of Pakistan of dined together at the White House last night.
(It is said that President Bush couldn't understand why they weren't having pork chops like always on Thursdays. White House Chief of Protocol Donald Burnham Ensenat had the unenviable task of trying to explain the concept of halal to The Decider(TM). After several minutes of intense discussion the President indicated that he understood. "Heh. Like kosher. My buddy Abramoff won't eat pork chops either. Not even on Thursdays.")
The conversation was undoubtedly tense but with the friendly Texan at the controls we can be certain that diplomacy was maintained. Afterwards the two south Asians said that they would "stay in touch".
Both of the neighbours expressed concern at reports that Taliban attacks had doubled since President Musharraf had come to a hands off agreement with tribes on the Afghan-Pakistan border.
Meanwhile in London an MOD report was leaked which accuses ISI (the Pakistani security service) of supporting al Qaeda and the Taliban. President Musharraf was not amused.
Also yesterday Amnesty International (known lefties and terrorcoddlers) released a report accusing Pakistan of "widespread human rights violations" including the torture of detainees.
¶ 16:10:00 0 comments
links to this post
(It is said that President Bush couldn't understand why they weren't having pork chops like always on Thursdays. White House Chief of Protocol Donald Burnham Ensenat had the unenviable task of trying to explain the concept of halal to The Decider(TM). After several minutes of intense discussion the President indicated that he understood. "Heh. Like kosher. My buddy Abramoff won't eat pork chops either. Not even on Thursdays.")
The conversation was undoubtedly tense but with the friendly Texan at the controls we can be certain that diplomacy was maintained. Afterwards the two south Asians said that they would "stay in touch".
Both of the neighbours expressed concern at reports that Taliban attacks had doubled since President Musharraf had come to a hands off agreement with tribes on the Afghan-Pakistan border.
Meanwhile in London an MOD report was leaked which accuses ISI (the Pakistani security service) of supporting al Qaeda and the Taliban. President Musharraf was not amused.
Also yesterday Amnesty International (known lefties and terrorcoddlers) released a report accusing Pakistan of "widespread human rights violations" including the torture of detainees.
Only in Texas
The Dallas police force were duly proud of one of their recent acquisitions, a so-called bait car. The cop's new toy was "outfitted with cameras, tracking capabilities and a remote engine-kill system designed to catch auto thieves."
Sounds like a brilliant idea doesn't it? Leave the car out to get stolen, track it electronically, close in on the miscreants, kill the car's engine and nail the bastards.
Just one problem. Sometime between last Friday and Monday the bait car was, well, stolen. Now the coppers can't find it as the tracking system seems to have failed!
As they say when nature makes a better mousetrap.....
If anyone in the Dallas - Fort Worth area (or anywhere else for that matter) who might have information as to the vehicle's whereabouts should ring the auto theft unit at +12146713535. Unfortunately there's no mention of a reward.
¶ 15:17:00 0 comments
links to this post
Sounds like a brilliant idea doesn't it? Leave the car out to get stolen, track it electronically, close in on the miscreants, kill the car's engine and nail the bastards.
Just one problem. Sometime between last Friday and Monday the bait car was, well, stolen. Now the coppers can't find it as the tracking system seems to have failed!
As they say when nature makes a better mousetrap.....
If anyone in the Dallas - Fort Worth area (or anywhere else for that matter) who might have information as to the vehicle's whereabouts should ring the auto theft unit at +12146713535. Unfortunately there's no mention of a reward.
Lady with Torch Abducted
DATELINE: NEW YORK 29 SEPTEMBER 2006
The Statue of Liberty has been reported missing this morning.
Several witnesses reported that they saw, in the early hours of the morning, the famous monument being bundled into the back of black Chevy Suburban with tinted windows and government plates by burly, crew cut men in dark suits and sunglasses. One of the men was reported to resemble Keifer Sutherland.
Further reports that the famous French woman was spotted at a small private airfield in New Jersey, hooded and handcuffed, being loaded onto an unmarked Lear jet sparked rumours that she had fallen victim to an extraordinary rendition. News that became available later on that the plane had filed a flight plan for Algiers amplified these concerns. (You know what the Algerians think of the French!)
US government sources were not forthcoming on the matter. Presidential spokesman Tony Snow would neither confirm nor deny the disappearance nor even discuss whether the statue may once have existed.
Coming on the heels of yesterday's passage of the so-called Foreign Rendition Enablement and Enforcement Debriefing Optimization Modus Operandi (FREEDOM) Act in the Senate many concerned citizens are concerned that the shrine to humanity could be subject to aggressive interrogation techniques and even torture. No methods that could be dangerous or even fatal to a bronze object are prohibited in the bill as approved yesterday.
A CIA official, speaking off the record, would not be drawn on the status of the statue. He did however say the famous woman was: "known to have been visited by both al Qaeda operatives, known Communists and people of color on multiple occasions. She has been known to make public statements that are likely to be of aid and comfort to the Freedomhaters(TM) with whom we are at war. Also she is French".
Calls made to the Department of Defense, the Department of State and the National Parks Service have not been returned.
In other news vistors to Monticello this morning reported the sounds of weeping emanating from Thomas Jefferson's grave. ¶ 15:11:00 0 comments links to this post
The Statue of Liberty has been reported missing this morning.
Several witnesses reported that they saw, in the early hours of the morning, the famous monument being bundled into the back of black Chevy Suburban with tinted windows and government plates by burly, crew cut men in dark suits and sunglasses. One of the men was reported to resemble Keifer Sutherland.
Further reports that the famous French woman was spotted at a small private airfield in New Jersey, hooded and handcuffed, being loaded onto an unmarked Lear jet sparked rumours that she had fallen victim to an extraordinary rendition. News that became available later on that the plane had filed a flight plan for Algiers amplified these concerns. (You know what the Algerians think of the French!)
US government sources were not forthcoming on the matter. Presidential spokesman Tony Snow would neither confirm nor deny the disappearance nor even discuss whether the statue may once have existed.
Coming on the heels of yesterday's passage of the so-called Foreign Rendition Enablement and Enforcement Debriefing Optimization Modus Operandi (FREEDOM) Act in the Senate many concerned citizens are concerned that the shrine to humanity could be subject to aggressive interrogation techniques and even torture. No methods that could be dangerous or even fatal to a bronze object are prohibited in the bill as approved yesterday.
A CIA official, speaking off the record, would not be drawn on the status of the statue. He did however say the famous woman was: "known to have been visited by both al Qaeda operatives, known Communists and people of color on multiple occasions. She has been known to make public statements that are likely to be of aid and comfort to the Freedomhaters(TM) with whom we are at war. Also she is French".
Calls made to the Department of Defense, the Department of State and the National Parks Service have not been returned.
In other news vistors to Monticello this morning reported the sounds of weeping emanating from Thomas Jefferson's grave. ¶ 15:11:00 0 comments links to this post
Jack and Karl in a tree....
Let's face we all know Rove must have done something illegal.
¶ 15:00:00 0 comments
links to this post
More from Suburban Guerilla on between Messrs. Abramoff and Rove. What a lovely couple they make. Maybe if someone would get off their ass and indict Rove for something, anything Jack and Karl could be roomies in the pen. (I wonder who will get to be on top?)
Let's face we all know Rove must have done something illegal.
Borat banned!
Kazakh investigative journals Borat has been barred from visiting the White House by overzealous Secret Service agents. The independent journalist had timed his visit to coincide with the state visit of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev.
Don't worry Borat. President Bush is not fond of journalists except those from Faux News. Perhaps if you rang Mr. Murdoch and applied for a position as the Kazakh stringer you might have more luck in the future. For a taste of what you will be working with you will be pleased to know that Faux News is available in Kazakhstan!
¶ 13:36:00 0 comments
links to this post
Don't worry Borat. President Bush is not fond of journalists except those from Faux News. Perhaps if you rang Mr. Murdoch and applied for a position as the Kazakh stringer you might have more luck in the future. For a taste of what you will be working with you will be pleased to know that Faux News is available in Kazakhstan!
Attention. Senator Inhofe. More hysteria.
Dear Senator Inhofe,
This news came out too late for you to deal with it in your recent speech to the Senate as you effectively and truthfully dealt with so many other environmentalist myths .
Could you please take the time to lucidly and clearly debunk this hateful rumour that methane levels will rise causing a world wide calamity? I such this effort will be facilitated by the fact that this particular report was authored by an Australian. I mean, they live upside down, how can they be smarter than the US government?
I appreciate you using your valuable time in the service of this important campaign.
Kind regards,
A. Friend
PS - A nice man from ExxonMobil gave me a fat envelope and asked me to pass it on to your. I have enclosed it and marked it for your personal attention.
¶ 13:25:00 0 comments
links to this post
This news came out too late for you to deal with it in your recent speech to the Senate as you effectively and truthfully dealt with so many other environmentalist myths .
Could you please take the time to lucidly and clearly debunk this hateful rumour that methane levels will rise causing a world wide calamity? I such this effort will be facilitated by the fact that this particular report was authored by an Australian. I mean, they live upside down, how can they be smarter than the US government?
I appreciate you using your valuable time in the service of this important campaign.
Kind regards,
A. Friend
PS - A nice man from ExxonMobil gave me a fat envelope and asked me to pass it on to your. I have enclosed it and marked it for your personal attention.
British gadgets
George, what hath thou wrought?
¶ 13:20:00 0 comments
links to this post
Somewhere in the UK there are 9.8 million George Foreman grills lying about unused. That's one for every 6 people.
If everyone who's not using them decides to throw them away will this lead to an environmental crisis and another fridge mountain?
If everyone who's not using them decides to throw them away will this lead to an environmental crisis and another fridge mountain?
George, what hath thou wrought?
If the beach will not come to Mahomet...
...then maybe the beach will come to Oklahoma.
I think that the proud, virtuous and courageous Senator from Oklahoma, James Inhofe (R), has been unfairly pilloried by the hostile and patently left wing media for his recent speech on the floor of the Senate where he deftly countered the arguments of the global warming doomsayers.
He challenged all patriotic Americans to give up on "climate porn". (I assume that this leads to "climate masturbation" and then to "climate blindness". Hey! What's Inhofe been up to when he's alone in his office with just a copy of the New Scientist to keep him company anyway?)
He knows the suffering of those born over 500 miles from the sea. He understands that the children of Oklahoma have been unfairly deprived of day trips to the seaside. He knows that if climate change occurs sea level will rise and all of those evil, blue states will be destroyed by god's wrath.
Oh, and the beach may come to Tulsa and this might not be such futile quest!
Think of the children!
¶ 12:48:00 0 comments
links to this post
I think that the proud, virtuous and courageous Senator from Oklahoma, James Inhofe (R), has been unfairly pilloried by the hostile and patently left wing media for his recent speech on the floor of the Senate where he deftly countered the arguments of the global warming doomsayers.
He challenged all patriotic Americans to give up on "climate porn". (I assume that this leads to "climate masturbation" and then to "climate blindness". Hey! What's Inhofe been up to when he's alone in his office with just a copy of the New Scientist to keep him company anyway?)
He knows the suffering of those born over 500 miles from the sea. He understands that the children of Oklahoma have been unfairly deprived of day trips to the seaside. He knows that if climate change occurs sea level will rise and all of those evil, blue states will be destroyed by god's wrath.
Oh, and the beach may come to Tulsa and this might not be such futile quest!
Think of the children!
Will it be a musical?
Will there be nudity? Will Alberto Gonzalez get a cameo? Will it be a neocon wankfest? Will it go straight to DVD? There are so many questions.
Presenting Rendition, a film planned by New Line Cinema and provisonally starring Reese Witherspoon and Jake Gyllenhaal.
¶ 12:40:00 0 comments
links to this post
Presenting Rendition, a film planned by New Line Cinema and provisonally starring Reese Witherspoon and Jake Gyllenhaal.
Jack the lad
A US Congressional report indicates that White House officials accepted over 25,000 USD in meals and drinks from convicted fraudster and former lobbyist Jack Abramoff. In addition Abramoff and his firm also supplied White House employees with sports and concert tickets. It is illegal for officials to accept gifts of more than 20 USD from lobbyists. It is unknown if these gifts were repaid as required by law. (In an administration that has go to such lengths to be ethically unimpeachable I am sure that accounts for these gifts must have been settled.)
Mr. Abramoff and his business partner have been granted a second delay to a start to their prison term so that they may continue to cooperate in a corruption investigation. Interestingly both sides sought a longer delay than was granted.
There has to be some good to come out of all this surely.
¶ 12:23:00 0 comments
links to this post
Mr. Abramoff and his business partner have been granted a second delay to a start to their prison term so that they may continue to cooperate in a corruption investigation. Interestingly both sides sought a longer delay than was granted.
There has to be some good to come out of all this surely.
Dying for politics
British generals have been putting pressure on the government to pull troops out of Iraq and redeploy them to Afghanistan which is regarded as "a more worthwhile and winnable battleground". The government has resisted the calls for political reasons.
Meanwhile former Foreign Minister Jack Straw shows why he lost his job under pressure from the US by telling the audience at the BBC's Question Time
that the situation in Iraq "is dire". He blamed the Bush administration for mistakes and for not following "the lead of Secretary Powell. The State Department had put in a huge amount of effort to ensure there was a proper civilian administration."
In the states Bob Woodward's new book accuses the Bush administration of ignoring the level of violence and unrest in Iraq. He is quoted as saying:
Meanwhile former Foreign Minister Jack Straw shows why he lost his job under pressure from the US by telling the audience at the BBC's Question Time
that the situation in Iraq "is dire". He blamed the Bush administration for mistakes and for not following "the lead of Secretary Powell. The State Department had put in a huge amount of effort to ensure there was a proper civilian administration."
In the states Bob Woodward's new book accuses the Bush administration of ignoring the level of violence and unrest in Iraq. He is quoted as saying:
"The truth is that the assessment by intelligence experts is that next year, 2007, is going to get worse and, in public, you have the president and you have the Pentagon saying, 'Oh, no, things are going to get better'."
In Iraq journalist have long had to live in fear. First from US attacks and more recently from insurgents and death squads. Now the Iraqi government itself joins the mix. New laws* make it an offence to ridicule the government or government officials. A dozen or more journalists have been charged and at least three have been imprisoned for these offences. On the 7th of September the "police sealed the offices of Al Arabiya...for what the government said was inflammatory reporting" and some other news outlets have been shut down.
The "Freedom Agenda"(TM) marches on.
*Note: it is rumoured that President Bush as tasked Attorney General Gonzales with "getting us some of them laws". The Attorney General was not available for comment.
Jesse Ventura's footsteps
Perhaps professional wrestling is the new path to a political career. After Jesse "The Body" Ventura's success in Minnesota Shinobu "The Strongest Man in Women's Wrestling" Kandori appears likely to gain a seat in the Japanese parliament. She is a well known guest on quiz and chat shows. She once knocked down a clubhouse door at Tokyo's Korakuen stadium. (Perhaps she should run for the US Congress and be put in charge of oversight!)
Alas the golden age of British wrestling is behind us. Yet it is possible that the UK can reverse the trend. It would be an ideal career choice for John Prescott after he leaves politics!
¶ 11:39:00 6 comments
links to this post
Alas the golden age of British wrestling is behind us. Yet it is possible that the UK can reverse the trend. It would be an ideal career choice for John Prescott after he leaves politics!
Totally testosterone
It may explain the walk which looks as though he just got off a horse (which he may or may not be afraid of). It may explain the arrogance. It may explain the swaggering bravado. It may explain the lack of intellectual curiosity. The Decider(TM) may be too heavy on testosterone.
According to research reported in the Journal of Biological Chemistry excess testosterone kills brain cells.
¶ 11:29:00 0 comments
links to this post
According to research reported in the Journal of Biological Chemistry excess testosterone kills brain cells.
Two Jags drives into the sunset
Well he isn't going to WALK into the sunset, is he?
Yesterday in Manchester we were treated to a sad farewell speech from Deputy Prime Minister John "Two Jags" Prescott. Mr. Prescott has promised to step down from the post, but not from politics, before the next part conference. Curiously this annoucement has stirred less controversy and speculation than the Prime Minister's departure date.
Mr. Prescott is a master of the malapropism with a gift for mangling the English language surpassed by only a few (George Bush may or may not be one of them). Those wishing to study his turn of phrase need look no further than Simon Hoggart's book Punchlines: A Crash Course in English with John Prescott (which may unfortunately be out of print).
His career has been peppered with incidents that have been of equal interest to the tabloids and the broadsheets.
Yesterday in Manchester we were treated to a sad farewell speech from Deputy Prime Minister John "Two Jags" Prescott. Mr. Prescott has promised to step down from the post, but not from politics, before the next part conference. Curiously this annoucement has stirred less controversy and speculation than the Prime Minister's departure date.
Mr. Prescott is a master of the malapropism with a gift for mangling the English language surpassed by only a few (George Bush may or may not be one of them). Those wishing to study his turn of phrase need look no further than Simon Hoggart's book
Punchlines: A Crash Course in English with John Prescott (which may unfortunately be out of print).His career has been peppered with incidents that have been of equal interest to the tabloids and the broadsheets.
He has punched a protester who hit him with an egg.¶ 11:10:00 0 comments links to this post
He is known as "Two Jags" as he keeps (actually he may have got rid of one by now) two Jaguars, his official chauffeur driven car and one he actually owns.
At the Labour party's 1999 conference in Bournemouth he hopped in a Jag to traverse the 250 yards from his hotel to the conference centre. He later blamed this on the need to protect his wife's coiffure from the wind. He later, sans wife, repeated this performance at a climate change conference in Providence, Rhode Island.
Despite a certain physical resemblance to a bulldog and a physique like a sumo wrestler he managed to have a two year affair with his secretary. (Well - Henry Kissinger used to get laid too!)
After this affair he fought tooth and nail to hang on to his grace and favour governemnt homes even after being stripped of much of his portfolio.
To Ken I say "stay the course"
Forget the war on terror. Forget about Iraq and Afghanistan. There's a bigger war afoot and I think it's a war that we can win but we can't duck and run.
What war is this you may ask?
Ken "Red Ken" Livingstone's war on pigeons. Six years ago the London mayor declared war on the "rats with wings" that haunt Trafalgar Square. He has even brought in a pair of hawks to hunt them down.
So far his efforts have proved largely unsuccessful as any recent visitor to the West End will tell you. The hawks have only managed to bag 121 pigeons over 3 years although 2,500 have disappeared one way or another. The operation has cost £226,000 or around £90 a bird.
Maybe Ken should bring in Ted Nugent and while he's here perhaps Mr. Nugent could pop round to the US embassy and collect£890,000 they owe us for the congestion charge. This would more than cover the cost of the pigeons and would leave more than enough to invite Hugo Chavez for another visit.
Lib Dems be damned Ken. This is no time to be soft. There's a war to win!
¶ 10:56:00 0 comments
links to this post
What war is this you may ask?
Ken "Red Ken" Livingstone's war on pigeons. Six years ago the London mayor declared war on the "rats with wings" that haunt Trafalgar Square. He has even brought in a pair of hawks to hunt them down.
So far his efforts have proved largely unsuccessful as any recent visitor to the West End will tell you. The hawks have only managed to bag 121 pigeons over 3 years although 2,500 have disappeared one way or another. The operation has cost £226,000 or around £90 a bird.
Maybe Ken should bring in Ted Nugent and while he's here perhaps Mr. Nugent could pop round to the US embassy and collect£890,000 they owe us for the congestion charge. This would more than cover the cost of the pigeons and would leave more than enough to invite Hugo Chavez for another visit.
Lib Dems be damned Ken. This is no time to be soft. There's a war to win!
28 September 2006
A Jeffinition (TM)
I was driven to this nsark after receiving an email from someone (I forget from whom know and I deleted it) in which Pink was described as a superstar. Now don't get me wrong. I like Pink, she's talented, aware and I dig much of her music. But she ain't no superstar and ain't gonna be one anytime soon! ¶ 17:12:00 0 comments links to this post
Fameflation (noun)- an uncontrolable upward trend in the terms used to describe the level of noteriety of an individual. Hence someone who has made an amatuer porn video becomes "a star" (see Paris Hilton), someone who has made two or three films becomes a superstar and any band who's recorded at least 3 albums can put out a "Greatest Hits" collection.
I was driven to this nsark after receiving an email from someone (I forget from whom know and I deleted it) in which Pink was described as a superstar. Now don't get me wrong. I like Pink, she's talented, aware and I dig much of her music. But she ain't no superstar and ain't gonna be one anytime soon! ¶ 17:12:00 0 comments links to this post
Same week, different news
It would seem that Newsweek's North American readers are too sensitive for the same reading that hardnosed Europeans, Latin Americans and Asians can handle.
The cover of this week's international edition features an Afghan fighter wearing a turban and pointing a grenade launcher towards the reader. The headline? "Losing Afghanistan".
This week's US edition is a little milder. The cover photo is Annie Leibovitz. The headline? "My life in pictures".
By way of explanation Newsweek International's editor, Fareed Zakaria, offered "that in the US, Newsweek was a mass market magazine with a broad reach, while overseas it 'is a somewhat more upmarket magazine for internationally minded people'".
You can see the different versions here.
Come on Yanks. Toughen up! There's a war on.
¶ 16:19:00 2 comments
links to this post
The cover of this week's international edition features an Afghan fighter wearing a turban and pointing a grenade launcher towards the reader. The headline? "Losing Afghanistan".
This week's US edition is a little milder. The cover photo is Annie Leibovitz. The headline? "My life in pictures".
By way of explanation Newsweek International's editor, Fareed Zakaria, offered "that in the US, Newsweek was a mass market magazine with a broad reach, while overseas it 'is a somewhat more upmarket magazine for internationally minded people'".
You can see the different versions here.
Come on Yanks. Toughen up! There's a war on.
How long do Tastykakes last?
There was an article in the Guardian the other day about trans fatty acids which was pretty horrible in its own right. There is also news that both Los Angeles and New York are considering restricting their use in restaurants.
Buried in the article was mention of a nutritionist in Chicago who has a 22 year old Hostess cupcake to demonstrate how truly horrible these things are. Turns out that it's true.
I'm sure I must have eaten a Butterscotch Krimpet older than that. It's too bad they don't come in the waxed paper anymore. There was a real art to unwrapping them without the icing sticking to the paper. At least they're kosher now! (How did they ever sell in Northeast Philly if they weren't?
¶ 15:22:00 0 comments
links to this post
Buried in the article was mention of a nutritionist in Chicago who has a 22 year old Hostess cupcake to demonstrate how truly horrible these things are. Turns out that it's true.
I'm sure I must have eaten a Butterscotch Krimpet older than that. It's too bad they don't come in the waxed paper anymore. There was a real art to unwrapping them without the icing sticking to the paper. At least they're kosher now! (How did they ever sell in Northeast Philly if they weren't?
Military pay
The US Congress has decided to give their military a 2.2% pay rise next year. How generous of them! This dwarfs the 2% increase Congress gave themselves earlier this year and it's not like folks in the military have to try to live on martinis and cocktail weenies. Oh no. The military get MREs.
Maybe we should send Bush and the Republican leadership to the cinema. It seems to have had some impact on Jacques Chirac. (Not that I'm comparing those great patriots to the French! Mais non!)
I wonder what we could send them to see?
¶ 14:56:00 0 comments
links to this post
Maybe we should send Bush and the Republican leadership to the cinema. It seems to have had some impact on Jacques Chirac. (Not that I'm comparing those great patriots to the French! Mais non!)
I wonder what we could send them to see?
Bubba goes to Manchester
Yesterday at the Labour party conference saw a love fest starring big Bill Clinton. As one (female) minister is reported to have said: "I have never seen one man simultaneously flirt with 3,000 people".
He talked about Tony Blair. He talked about aids. He talked about global warming. He talked about ubuntu.
"What?"
"Ubuntu."
"What's ubuntu?"
"Some word he learned in Africa."
"Man he's come a long way since Little Rock. What's it mean?"
"Something like 'I am, because you are'."
"What's that mean?"
"Got me."
Alternate definitions here or here.
Or maybe he was just promoting Linux.
¶ 14:05:00 0 comments
links to this post
He talked about Tony Blair. He talked about aids. He talked about global warming. He talked about ubuntu.
"What?"
"Ubuntu."
"What's ubuntu?"
"Some word he learned in Africa."
"Man he's come a long way since Little Rock. What's it mean?"
"Something like 'I am, because you are'."
"What's that mean?"
"Got me."
Alternate definitions here or here.
Or maybe he was just promoting Linux.
Republican convention
The Republicans have announced that the twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul will be the site of their 2008 convention. Ostensibly this is because they view the Mid West will be critical in that year's election but I think I know what Ken Mehlman doing whilst he's there!
¶ 13:54:00 0 comments
links to this post
In for the long haul
I guess it all depends on what the meaning of "permanent" is. Nothing lasts forever.
¶ 12:25:00 0 comments
links to this post
Hidden in the Boston Globe article referenced below is a mention that a Congressional report attributes the increase in Iraq spending to "the building of more extensive infrastructure to support troops and equipment". The report goes on to suggest "that the construction of so-called semi-permanent support bases has picked up in recent months". The US government continues to deny that any permanent installations are in place or being built.
Ironically on the release of this reports comes just days after the US House passed a defence spending bill that includes a ban on the construction of permanent bases.
Ironically on the release of this reports comes just days after the US House passed a defence spending bill that includes a ban on the construction of permanent bases.
I guess it all depends on what the meaning of "permanent" is. Nothing lasts forever.
War on terra update
Earlier in the week we were treated to the release of very small sections of the US National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq. The White House had hoped that the release of these snippets would support their case that everything is going swimmingly. That doesn't seem to be the case.
Today the British intelligence community weighs via a report leaked to BBC programme Newsnight that says that the Iraq war has acted as a "recruiting sergeant for extremists across the Muslim world". The report, actually written about the situation in Pakistan, also condemns the British government over Afghanistan saying it had sent troops there "with its eyes closed". The government has attempted to distance itself from the document saying that it represents the thinking of neither the government nor the MOD.
Elsewhere in the real world:
Today the British intelligence community weighs via a report leaked to BBC programme Newsnight that says that the Iraq war has acted as a "recruiting sergeant for extremists across the Muslim world". The report, actually written about the situation in Pakistan, also condemns the British government over Afghanistan saying it had sent troops there "with its eyes closed". The government has attempted to distance itself from the document saying that it represents the thinking of neither the government nor the MOD.
Elsewhere in the real world:
¶ 11:27:00 0 comments links to this postThe bodies of 40 man, most apparently tortured, have been found on the streets of Baghdad over the last 24 hours.
A suicide bomber has killed 19 in an attack in Helmand province where British troops are primarily deployed.
Lincoln Group, who has admitted paying journalist to plant pro-American articles in the Iraqi press, has been awarded a new contract, worth 6.2 million USD over two years, to "monitor a number of English and Arabic news outlets and to produce public-relations products like talking points or speeches for American forces in Iraq".
The war in Iraq is now costing US taxpayers nearly 2 billion USD a week up 20% on last year. Running ahead of inflation then!
Meet the real drug pushers
Multinational pharmaceutical firms have taken to lobbying government ministers directly in an effort to obtain wider markets for their new and costly medications. Specifically mentioned in today's Guardian article are Pfizer, Eli Lily, Johnson & Johnson and Bristol-Meyers Squib. The pressure was specifically towards decisions taken by NICE* (National Institute for Clinical Excellence) that several new (and expensive) Alzheimer drugs should receive only limited use under the NHS. NICE decided that there was little evidence that the new drugs represented material improvements over existing drugs and only approved their use only in limited circumstances.
Pfizer is specifically accused of making thinly veiled threats to take its business elsewhere. Drug companies represent about a quarter of the UK's manufacturing base and is worth about 3.5 billion GBP annually. The industry as a whole operates on a higher gross profit margin than any other industry sector.
In a similar vein The Times reported last week that drug firms also use funding of health charities, often specifically targeted towards specific events or projects that could provide favourable publicity for their business.
Even The Pusher didn't go to these lengths.
*Note: NICE is charged with vetting new drugs and other treatments to determine clinical value and cost effectiveness. It decides whether a new treatment will be available on the NHS and how wide its utilisation will be. Their decisions are not without controversy and often strongly condemned and protested by lobby groups be they from industry, the medical community and the wider public. The recent controversy over breast cancer drug Herceptin is a case in point. (Before the right wing Yanks start screaming "rationing" I recognise that there is a measure of rationing in any system, single payer or otherwise. Taken a hard look at the American system and tell there isn't rationing of care and treatment in America. Those with money and good insurance get excellent care with the most current and expensive therapies. Those without the funds or insurance get limited care, poor care or no care!)
¶ 10:25:00 0 comments
links to this post
Pfizer is specifically accused of making thinly veiled threats to take its business elsewhere. Drug companies represent about a quarter of the UK's manufacturing base and is worth about 3.5 billion GBP annually. The industry as a whole operates on a higher gross profit margin than any other industry sector.
In a similar vein The Times reported last week that drug firms also use funding of health charities, often specifically targeted towards specific events or projects that could provide favourable publicity for their business.
Even The Pusher didn't go to these lengths.
*Note: NICE is charged with vetting new drugs and other treatments to determine clinical value and cost effectiveness. It decides whether a new treatment will be available on the NHS and how wide its utilisation will be. Their decisions are not without controversy and often strongly condemned and protested by lobby groups be they from industry, the medical community and the wider public. The recent controversy over breast cancer drug Herceptin is a case in point. (Before the right wing Yanks start screaming "rationing" I recognise that there is a measure of rationing in any system, single payer or otherwise. Taken a hard look at the American system and tell there isn't rationing of care and treatment in America. Those with money and good insurance get excellent care with the most current and expensive therapies. Those without the funds or insurance get limited care, poor care or no care!)
27 September 2006
26 November 1997
Where were you? Have Skunk thinks he knows where Paul Wolfowitz and Zalmay Khalilzad were and what they were doing.
Most importantly he thinks he knows why 26 November 1997 seems to have been picked out of the air as the date the White House wants the amendments the McCain Kabuki Compromise to be retroactive to.
Well, I can't argue with it. There's got to be a reason.
¶ 17:28:00 0 comments
links to this post
Most importantly he thinks he knows why 26 November 1997 seems to have been picked out of the air as the date the White House wants the amendments the McCain Kabuki Compromise to be retroactive to.
Well, I can't argue with it. There's got to be a reason.
George Bush - aletheiaphobic* or mythomaniac?
And does it matter?
President Bush has allowed snippets of the National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq released because he says it supports what he's been saying all along: all is well, stay the course, a thousand points of light (oops that was Daddy Bush).
And guess what? It doesn't support what he says! Now what?
Read it(pdf) and decide for yourself.
* Aletheiaphobia is a word of my own invention (I think) from the Greek word for truth - aletheia + phobia for fear.
¶ 17:05:00 0 comments
links to this post
President Bush has allowed snippets of the National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq released because he says it supports what he's been saying all along: all is well, stay the course, a thousand points of light (oops that was Daddy Bush).
And guess what? It doesn't support what he says! Now what?
Read it(pdf) and decide for yourself.
* Aletheiaphobia is a word of my own invention (I think) from the Greek word for truth - aletheia + phobia for fear.
Not a god like this
I'm an atheist, a godless heathen! I have been for more than 25 years. I have no regrets and I don't proselytise. But I will have to confess that have been times during those years that I may have wished I could believe in a god.
But not Jerry Falwell's god! No siree bob.
Not the Republican god.
Not a god who damns all non-believers
Not a god who blames "the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People For the American Way" for the 11 September attacks.
Not a god who you have to follow his way to be a human being.
Nope. Not this athiest. No sir.
¶ 16:45:00 0 comments
links to this post
But not Jerry Falwell's god! No siree bob.
Not the Republican god.
Not a god who damns all non-believers
Not a god who blames "the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People For the American Way" for the 11 September attacks.
Not a god who you have to follow his way to be a human being.
Nope. Not this athiest. No sir.
Denying the denial of the denial
From the altruists at Exxon comes a puff piece on the Guardian leader page entitled (are you ready?) "We are not climate-change deniers". Well I'm glad they cleared that up. The article is in reply to George Monbiot's recent essay berating ExxonMobil for funding pseudoscientific organisations which attempt to undermine the arguments for action on climate change.
ExxonMobil corporate affairs director Nick Thomas assures us that
ExxonMobil corporate affairs director Nick Thomas assures us that
"we are taking steps to reduce and minimise carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions from our own operations. In addition we support approaches to reduce emissions more broadly in ways that are cost effective for society and that consider the uncertainties that remain."
However this is what they say about climate change on the ExxonMobil website:
While assessments such as those of the IPCC have expressed growing confidence that recent warming can be attributed to increases in greenhouse gases, these conclusions rely on expert judgment rather than objective, reproducible statistical methods. Taken together, gaps in the scientific basis for theoretical climate models and the interplay of significant natural variability make it very difficult to determine objectively the extent to which recent climate changes might be the result of human actions. These gaps also make it difficult to predict the timing, extent, and consequences of future climate change.
Even with many scientific uncertainties, the risk that greenhouse gas emissions may have serious impacts justifies taking action. The choice of action must consider environmental, social, and economic consequences, as well as recognize the long-term nature of climate change.
Doesn't exactly sound like they're embracing the science, does it?
¶ 15:30:00 0 comments
links to this post
You call this gun control?
There would seem to be a proposal before the Pennsylvania legislature which would restrict handgun purchases to one a month.
This is described as "controversial" and it is put forward that this represents "gun control".
Of course NRA has marshalled its forces to protest this draconian restriction which clearly violates one's god given rights.
This is described as "controversial" and it is put forward that this represents "gun control".
Of course NRA has marshalled its forces to protest this draconian restriction which clearly violates one's god given rights.
To quote one eager opponent of the measure. Mike Cancel of Washington, Pa - "The population has to have parity against the standing military, man for man." (Emphasis mine.)
I assume that this means the federal govenrment will be sending weapons inspection teams through rural Pennsylvania any day now looking for weapons of mass destruction. I mean the man said he's got to have them!
¶ 15:01:00 0 comments
links to this post
I assume that this means the federal govenrment will be sending weapons inspection teams through rural Pennsylvania any day now looking for weapons of mass destruction. I mean the man said he's got to have them!
But I don't wanna go!!!!!
Well this didn't take long. On radio 4s Today Show this morning when asked if the PM's leaving offices was now "further away than some people thought when they came to Manchester" education secretary Alan Johnson replied "oh, well, I think so".
Mr. Johnson, who it has been suggested might contest the party leadership, went on to say "I mean if the prime minister says, 'I want to use the rest of my time to try to resolve the Middle East problem in the same way as we tried to tackle the Northern Ireland problem,' I think it suggests he's not talking about a couple of weeks; it's a big problem."
Well for fuck's sack. If he's going to bring peace to the Middle East first Gordon will be a great granddad before he gets his shot!
¶ 14:30:00 0 comments
links to this post
Mr. Johnson, who it has been suggested might contest the party leadership, went on to say "I mean if the prime minister says, 'I want to use the rest of my time to try to resolve the Middle East problem in the same way as we tried to tackle the Northern Ireland problem,' I think it suggests he's not talking about a couple of weeks; it's a big problem."
Well for fuck's sack. If he's going to bring peace to the Middle East first Gordon will be a great granddad before he gets his shot!
The ashes will travel in style
First for the Americans amongst us a little background. This post is about cricket. Cricket is a bat and ball came invented by the English and then perfected by the colonies and is not to be confused with Krikkit.
Specifically this is about the Test series between the English and Australian national teams.
Specifically this is about the Test series between the English and Australian national teams.
Test matches are international matches between countries that are rated sufficiently highly by the International Cricket Council or ICC to be awarded test status. (Current test nations are England, Australia, South Africa, West Indies, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh.)Test matches are played over five days with each side getting an opportunity to bat twice. The total score between the two innings wins. A match is drawn if a team is behind but hasn't had a chance to get through all its allotted wickets (or outs) before the end of the fifth day. Confused yet? It gets worse but I'll leave you to find out for yourself should you so desire.
Back to England v Australia. This test series, played about once every other year is known as the Ashes series. After the Aussie beat England for the first time (in 1882) the following mock obituary appeared in the Sporting Times: