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!"
31 December 2007
Bonne année
Americans (and Canadians) of a certain age know that it's just not New Year's without Guy Lombardo.
Try not to drink any more than absolutely necessary! ¶ 13:40:00 0 comments links to this post
Try not to drink any more than absolutely necessary! ¶ 13:40:00 0 comments links to this post
Today in science
Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig may have accidentally stumbled on the secret to Captain Codpiece's success; a mutated gene that can cause those who have it to be "stubborn and never..,learn from their mistakes. Calls for this to be known as the "Bush mutation" have so far gone unheeded.
Labels: science
¶ 13:25:00 0 comments links to this post
Vote Huckabee!
He's the only self declared prophet running for President.
Labels: republican candidates
¶ 12:15:00 0 comments links to this post
Let there be light...
...and there was light. The residents of the Scottish Isle of Eigg are to get mains electricity for the first time; all 87 of them. Good on 'em, I say.
Labels: british life
¶ 11:40:00 0 comments links to this post
A note of warning
The reign of Captain Codpiece has shown us that the "wall of separation" between church and state in America is crumbling. (After all God told him to invade Iraq didn't She?) Another taste of this comes in the form of this story from the Salt Lake City Tribune that former Utah governor Mike Leavitt overtly discussed injecting Mormon theology into his governance of the Beehive State.
To me this is not about Mormonism or Christianity but a warning that any candidate for high office who takes his religion to seriously, who considers his obligations to his church or his God(s) greater than those of the electorate he serves, must be considered a danger to American democracy.
You have been warned!
To me this is not about Mormonism or Christianity but a warning that any candidate for high office who takes his religion to seriously, who considers his obligations to his church or his God(s) greater than those of the electorate he serves, must be considered a danger to American democracy.
You have been warned!
Labels: religion, us politics
¶ 11:30:00 0 comments links to this post
Will he or won't he?
A couple of months ago most of America's pundits would have said that there was no chance that New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg would make an independent run for the US presidency in 2008. Now that no longer looks a safe bet.
If he does, who will it damage most? On the face of it one would think the Republican candidate, especially if they pick someone too far right or excessively Christian, would lose the votes of more centrist, sensible party members but there is always the risk that a Bloomberg bid could through New York's electoral votes into play and I can't see anyway for the Dems to win without New York.
This will have to be watched.
If he does, who will it damage most? On the face of it one would think the Republican candidate, especially if they pick someone too far right or excessively Christian, would lose the votes of more centrist, sensible party members but there is always the risk that a Bloomberg bid could through New York's electoral votes into play and I can't see anyway for the Dems to win without New York.
This will have to be watched.
Labels: us politics
¶ 11:19:00 2 comments links to this post
Today in infamy - fast boat to china edition
On this day in 1999 the United States turned control of the Panama Canal over to the government of Panama, the country from which it was stolen. There is still no word on when Panama is to be returned to Colombia.
One might ask how this anniversary affects the race for the US Presidency in 2008. That is still unclear but I do know that at least one Republican hopeful was against it at the time.
One might ask how this anniversary affects the race for the US Presidency in 2008. That is still unclear but I do know that at least one Republican hopeful was against it at the time.
Labels: latin america, today in infamy
¶ 11:14:00 0 comments links to this post
Progress report
Well the Iraqi government is finally learning. It isn't the news; it's the way you present it. They have announced that they are increasing the "hours of lack of electricity".
Getting better all the time.
Getting better all the time.
Labels: iraq, progress report
¶ 10:58:00 0 comments links to this post
30 December 2007
For your listening pleasure
Capercaillie - "Coisich A Rùin"
Labels: music
¶ 15:44:00 0 comments links to this post
In praise of Chicago
From Tuesday the city will start collecting a five cent a bottle tax on what is conceivably the world's most ridiculous and wasteful product, bottled water. Now I am not averse to a bottle of proper, naturally effervescent mineral water with a good meal and understand that in some circumstances one needs to buy a bottle when one is out and about but when I see people at the supermarket buying dozens of bottles to take home to drink, possibly to avoid the arduous trek from the settee to the kitchen tap, it makes my head want to explode.
Labels: water
¶ 15:17:00 0 comments links to this post
What I won't be getting for my birthday
A shuttle launch.
Labels: amerika
¶ 15:11:00 0 comments links to this post
In which I agree with Fred Thompson
It seems that the ex-actor and current Republican presidential hopeful is "not particularly interested in running for president" and I am not particularly interested in Fred Thompson running for president.
Labels: republican candidates
¶ 15:03:00 0 comments links to this post
Headline of the day
"One-legged man caught running away after robbing German bank"
¶ 15:01:00 0 comments
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Today in infamy
One year ago todaySaddam Hussein al-Tikriti was rather hastily executed. Now there are so many things we will never know.
Labels: iraq, today in infamy
¶ 14:55:00 0 comments links to this post
A word to the wise
Now I am not a lawyer but I am nearly certain that if one is a 73 year-old pastor who has already pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a 4 year-old girl one is probably not going to avoid a custodial sentence by claiming that the little vixen was just begging for it.
Labels: crime
¶ 14:40:00 0 comments links to this post
It's a Kristol-ganza!
Now that we know that His Smugness, neo-con "pundit" Bill Kristol has been hired by a newspaper he once wanted arrested for treason, even if no one is sure how one goes about arresting a newspaper, Media Matters provides us with a virtual smörgåsbord of his most insightful moments Enjoy.
Labels: neocons
¶ 14:30:00 0 comments links to this post
29 December 2007
For your listening pleasure
Perhaps the greatest cover version of all time from Jimi Hendrix (who I have accepted as my personal saviour) and "All Along the Watchtower"
Labels: music
¶ 16:38:00 0 comments links to this post
Today in infamy
One hundred and seventeen years ago today a lawless group of heavily armed illegal immigrants masacreed over one hundred and fifty loyal Americans at Wounded Knee.
Labels: native americans, today in infamy
¶ 16:33:00 0 comments links to this post
All Rudy - all of the time
One of his campaign workers tells us that he is the only man who can chase dem crazy Muslims back to their caves.
And he himself has a cozy little chat with us. ("Did I mention 9/11? I think I forgot to mention 9/11? I didn't forget to mention 9/11, did I?")
did i mention 911
And he himself has a cozy little chat with us. ("Did I mention 9/11? I think I forgot to mention 9/11? I didn't forget to mention 9/11, did I?")
did i mention 911
Labels: rudy
¶ 16:10:00 0 comments links to this post
Who does he think he serves?
The American people or the Iraqi government? He doesn't seem to understand the concept of a client state. And it's not even a real veto (his magic veto pen must have run dry); he's claiming that the Congress is adjourned when it isn't! If only there were some way to get rid of this guy.
Labels: captain codpiece, impeachment, supporting the troops
¶ 15:34:00 0 comments links to this post
First came the iPod...
...and it was good...then came the iPhone...and it was good...now meet the iSnake (not an Apple Corporation product).
Labels: health care
¶ 15:16:00 0 comments links to this post
A Catholic Church for the (first) millennium
On the explicit orders of Il Papa Roman Catholic Bishops are setting up rapid deployment exorcism squads to fight back against the legions of Satan!
(Note: I may have made up the "rapid deployment" part - but the rest is true!)
(Note: I may have made up the "rapid deployment" part - but the rest is true!)
Labels: religion
¶ 15:02:00 0 comments links to this post
A man can dream, can't he?
Am I getting overly excited at the prospect of Crystal Palace heading up into the promotion zone soon? With today's win away at Sheffield United we've managed 16 points from our last 6 matches.
¶ 14:44:00 0 comments
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Meanwhile in Iceland...
...Dagrún Thorsteindóttir accidentally swallowed an Xmas decoration and had to be taken to casualty. See - Xmas is dangerous!
Labels: my personal war on xmas, oddness
¶ 14:39:00 0 comments links to this post
Philadelphia: your attention please!
If you are not otherwise engaged tomorrow, and it's not as if the Eagles are going anywhere this year, you might want to join John Nirenberg outside Independence Hall (13:00 - 15:00). Mr. Nirenberg is walking from Boston to Washington to confront Nancy Pelosi and demand the impeachment of Captain Codpiece. Go on. It's worth a couple of hours, isn't it? You can always pop down to Jim's on South Street for a cheese steak afterwards. (If you do - please don't tell me how good it was! I have a serious craving.)
Labels: captain codpiece, philly
¶ 14:28:00 0 comments links to this post
The Pakistanis are coming! The Pakistanis are coming!
Thank God for Mike Huckabee. If it wasn't for the former governor of Arkansas we would be blissfully unaware of the dangers of unusual Pakistanis trying to infiltrate the United States in the wake of the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.
Labels: pakistan, republican candidates
¶ 14:12:00 0 comments links to this post
In praise of Battleboro VT
The Vermont town is being asked to make Captain Codpiece and his evil sidekick "I'm a Big" Dick Cheney subject to arrest should either one visit the town in the future. For reasons that may now be self-evident Vermont is the only state that Captain Codpiece has not visited since stealing the Presidency in 2000. This is unlikely to change but it is a perp-walk that I would pay big money to see!
Labels: captain codpiece, i'm a big dick cheney
¶ 12:36:00 0 comments links to this post
Bhutto death ruled a tragic accident
Government cover up suspected.
Labels: pakistan
¶ 12:28:00 0 comments links to this post
And to think I fucking missed it
Somehow I didn't get a chance to see the Catherine Tate Xmas Special on BBC 1 and only now do I find out that it is being hailed condemned as the "most offensive programme ever broadcast by the BBC on a Christmas Day". I hope they've still got it on the website!
Labels: british life
¶ 12:23:00 0 comments links to this post
Today in Infamy
Nine hundred and thirty seven years ago today the Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas à Becket was murdered near the altar of Canterbury Cathedral by knights in service of Henry II.
Labels: today in infamy
¶ 12:16:00 0 comments links to this post
What's wrong with Britain?
Apparently 78% of the populace believe that Britain should continue as a monarchy after Queen Liz (the Second of England and Wales and the First of Scotland) kicks off although most of them do think that we should give Chuck a pass and go straight to King Willy. Perhaps the prospect of changing the country's name and the national anthem simultaneously is just too much to face. Alternatively they've looked westward across the Atlantic and realised that a President can work out worse!
Labels: british life, royal family
¶ 12:09:00 1 comments links to this post
The Gong Show
So who has been singled out for celebration in this year's New Year's Honours List?
Kylie Minogue gets an OBE for services to surgically enhanced buttocks
Michael Parkinson is knighted for services to chat shows
Ian Wilmut (creator of Dolly the Sheep) is knighted for services to making right wing Christians bat shit crazy
Stuart Rose (boss at Marks & Sparks) is knighted for services to affordable lingerie and pre-packaged sushi
Ian Anderson gets an MBE for services to rock and roll salmon farming and flute twirling
Labels: british life
¶ 11:47:00 0 comments links to this post
Did someone change the Chinese calendar and neglect to inform me?
It seems that next year is the Year of the Potato. Perhaps Dan Quayle should be made honorary lexicographer.
Labels: oddness
¶ 11:41:00 0 comments links to this post
"The next thing I remember there was cheese everywhere"
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents is warning British consumers to tread carefully when using new or unfamiliar appliances after a freakish incident in Shedfield Hampshire involving an exploding fondue set.
Be careful out there!
Be careful out there!
Labels: british life
¶ 11:35:00 0 comments links to this post
28 December 2007
Maybe he should run for Vice President
Crooks and Liars has a clip of Republican presidential hopeful Mike "Holier Than Thou" Huckabee going pheasant hunting in which he expounds his "vote for me or die" platform. But it the Republicans are really paying attention they will want to ask the former Arkansas governor why he hates American gun makers. When asked about his shotgun he replies "It's a Benelli".
Labels: guns, republican candidates
¶ 14:42:00 0 comments links to this post
Juan Cole asks a silly question
Labels: captain codpiece, headlines, pakistan
¶ 13:54:00 0 comments links to this post
Terrorists strike in America's heartland
Unfortunately because they attack an abortion clinic they are described as vandals. Well God is on their side, right?
Labels: abortion rights
¶ 13:50:00 0 comments links to this post
Don't know what to do with the jumper (that you hate) that was given to you by a aunt (that you love)?
Perhaps the Oxfam Xmas Gifts Amnesty might be of use.
Labels: charity
¶ 13:11:00 0 comments links to this post
Meet the GodMen
Think Jesus on steroids. For those of you for whom mainstream Christianity is just too girly.
¶ 13:05:00 0 comments
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The War on Xmas
Israeli style.
Of course this only affected brown Christians so it is less of an issue. Fortunately St. Tony's express lane saw to it that wealthy, white Christians were not similarly inconvenienced.
Of course this only affected brown Christians so it is less of an issue. Fortunately St. Tony's express lane saw to it that wealthy, white Christians were not similarly inconvenienced.
Labels: israel, my personal war on xmas, palestine
¶ 12:59:00 0 comments links to this post
Progress report
The Iraqi government is to reduce the monthly food ration by 50% to a level lower than that provided under Saddam Hussein during the sanction years. Over 10 million Iraqis still rely on these basic supplies to feed themselves. This will have a favourable effect on the hearts and minds agenda that we haven't got.
Labels: iraq, progress report
¶ 12:53:00 0 comments links to this post
Today in infamy - Captain Codpiece likes to pretend it never happened edition
Thirty four years ago today the Endangered Species Act was signed into US law by Richard Nixon. I wonder what the odds would be if Bush were sent this exact legislation to sign.
Labels: captain codpiece, today in infamy
¶ 12:43:00 0 comments links to this post
From the department of "if we told you we'd have to kill you"
The US Central "Intelligence" Agency has held back data about its budget and staffing over fifty years ago from an official government account of the US "intelligence" community.
Labels: if we told you we'd have to kill you, us "intelligence"
¶ 12:34:00 0 comments links to this post
I thought America was supposed to be litigious...
...and therefore can't understand why they haven't emulated gay and lesbian groups in Spain who plan to sue a protestant minister who is claiming that he can cure homosexuality. Marcos Zapata, whose organisation runs a number of youth centres in Galicia, contends that gayness is a disease like alcoholism and can be healed. He stresses masculine role models for boys and in order to provide this he watches pro wrestling with his sons. Somehow Sr. Zapata seems to have missed all of the repressed homosexual imagery buried not very deep inside his chosen "sport".
¶ 12:16:00 0 comments
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Dangerous evil doer soon to be loose in Oz
Australia is set to release confessed terrorist David Hicks from jail tomorrow. I know that there will be those dangerous, freedom hating cynics who point out that Mr. Hicks only "confessed" as that was the only means at his disposal to leave the Guantánamo Bay Beach and Leisure Resort but clearly that is a red herring. After all we have the expert testimony of Captain Codpiece and his sidekick "I'm a Big" Dick Cheney who have repeatedly assured us that everyone held at the luxury resort on the shores of the Caribbean is in fact an evildoer. The Captain and "I'm a Big" Dick are in a position to know these things and we must trust them.
Labels: antipodes, egwot, gitmo
¶ 12:04:00 0 comments links to this post
"Red alert! Nan's gone off the map again."
It is a difficult subject but Britain's Alzheimer’s Society has come out in favour of electronic tagging for Alzheimer's sufferers to ensure that they can easily be located via satnav should they wander off and get lost. Probably a good idea but I wouldn't want to be the one that has to explain to a grandparent or parent why they've got an anklet that they can't ever take off.
Labels: british life
¶ 11:53:00 0 comments links to this post
Everyone panic!
Experts predict that Americans will continue to pay ridiculously low prices for petrol and diesel as early as next spring!
In case anyone is interested current prices in the UK are about 7.80 USD per US gallon for unleaded and 8.34 per US gallon for diesel.
In case anyone is interested current prices in the UK are about 7.80 USD per US gallon for unleaded and 8.34 per US gallon for diesel.
Labels: energy, us economy
¶ 11:39:00 0 comments links to this post
27 December 2007
When they say "shop till you drop"...
...they generally don't mean it literally. The fact that the women are Brummies probably explains a lot though.
Labels: british life, oddness
¶ 15:11:00 0 comments links to this post
Great news!
The Israel Defence Force did not commit war crimes by using cluster munitions against civilian areas during it (undoubtedly extremely legitimate) invasion of Lebanon last year after an exhaustive inquiry by the Israel Defence Force. There could hardly be a more impeachable source.
Labels: crimes against humanity, israel
¶ 14:43:00 0 comments links to this post
Whither Pakistan?
Former Pakistani Prime Minister and opponent of the country's current head of state Pervez "The Ex-General" Musharraf has been assassinated in Rawalpindi. In Islamabad four aides to former Premier Nawaz Sharif have also been killed by gunfire. Who is responsible for either of these incidents? I doubt we will ever know for sure. (UPDATE: I should like to point out that Jason Burke has drawn the same conclusion.) It is likely that the violence will escalate and, if it does, can the military government survive?
There are very few answers to these questions that can be viewed as being favourable for the Pakastani people, for American interests and for the world.
There are very few answers to these questions that can be viewed as being favourable for the Pakastani people, for American interests and for the world.
Labels: pakistan
¶ 14:11:00 0 comments links to this post
Pastafarians 1 - Polk County (FL) School Board 0
With the aid of the Flying Spaghetti Monster proposals by the school board in this Florida county to teach school children about "Intelligent" Design appear doomed to failure.
As a pagan I realised I didn't know much about the Church of the FSM so I went over to their website and discovered that their beliefs, whilst not to my taste, are eminently more sensible than Mormonism.
As a pagan I realised I didn't know much about the Church of the FSM so I went over to their website and discovered that their beliefs, whilst not to my taste, are eminently more sensible than Mormonism.
Labels: amerika, evolution, religion
¶ 12:34:00 0 comments links to this post
Understatement the the year
Courtesy of Robert Schoff of Des Moines Iowa:
Mr. Schoff was referring to the fact that he spent an hour of Xmas Eve stuck upside down inside of his septic tank. Preferring less excitement in my life I just went down the pub.
Labels: oddness
¶ 12:28:00 0 comments links to this post
Today in infamy
176 years ago today the HMS Beagle left Portsmouth harbor with Charles Darwin on board. Fortunately the famous voyage carefully avoided any contact with the public school systems in Florida, Texas, Kansas and Dover PA.
Labels: evolution, today in infamy
¶ 12:12:00 0 comments links to this post
Now this just breaks my hear
Surely there must be some law to prevent the grandfather of porn actress wannabe and talentless TV "star" Paris Hilton from cheating her of her richly undeserved inheritance by just giving it away.
Labels: The obscenely rich
¶ 12:08:00 0 comments links to this post
Why Americans make lousy engineers
They can't even tell when their own kids are so fat that their health is in danger for Christ's sake! 43% of parents of an extremely overweight or obese child, aged 6 - 11, said that they kid's weight was "about right". Another 37% thought their little angel was only "slightly overweight" and a few geniuses thought their child was underweight.
¶ 11:57:00 0 comments
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Now that America's cities are entirely safe...
...due to the high incidence of gun ownership in the country's urban areas the National Rifle Association wants to bring this peace of mind to National Parks. I feel safer already (as I don't live anywhere near an American National Park). I think that they should start with the Mall in Washington DC.
¶ 11:52:00 0 comments
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Things get complicated
Those evil Russians have announced plans to sell Iran an advanced antiaircraft system, said to be superior to its American counterpart, that is capable of shooting down both missiles and aircraft up to 100 miles away. I can assume that this will only increase the neo-con drumbeat for an attack on the Islamic Republic's nuclear sites by Captain Codpiece or his Israeli surrogates. I mean why not? What's another war between friends?
Labels: iran
¶ 11:40:00 0 comments links to this post
An interesting idea...
...but I really don't see how Egypt's plan to copyright its antiquities, such as the pyramids and the Sphinx, is going to be practical. Don't copyrights usually expire "x" years after the death of the creator? One would think that that would have passed already. Will the Mayans owe a fortune in back royalties?
Labels: oddness
¶ 11:34:00 0 comments links to this post
Norway - closed for business?
Nearly 25% of firms in the Scandinavian country face possible closure on Monday for failing to meet legally mandated quotas that require the 40% of board members to be women. Nonetheless the programme has been a relative success as 37% of board members of publicly held companies are now female. The US, in comparison, still has a very long way to go.
Labels: women's rights
¶ 11:25:00 0 comments links to this post
You have been warned
From the CBC comes an excellent interview with author Chris Hedges on the fascistic American Christian right wing.
For more read his book American Fascists
.
For more read his book American Fascists
. Labels: christian right wing, religion
¶ 11:18:00 0 comments links to this post
Sometimes democracy works
Despite heavy pressure from the government it seems that only about one third of MPs support changes to anti-terror regulation that would allow, amongst other things, an extension of the time that terror suspects can be held without charge to 42 days. Hopefully this will be the last we hear of this but somehow I doubt it.
Labels: big brother, british politics, egwot
¶ 11:07:00 0 comments links to this post
26 December 2007
In case you missed it
I certainly did (for the 14th consequetive year)!
Labels: british life, my personal war on xmas, royal family
¶ 17:28:00 0 comments links to this post
Today in infamy
Three years ago today was the Boxing Day tsunami that so devastated South and South East Asia. There are still many homeless and suffering.
Three years ago today was the Boxing Day tsunami that so devastated South and South East Asia. There are still many homeless and suffering.
Labels: natural disasters, today in infamy
¶ 16:55:00 0 comments links to this post
Headline of the day
"Santa in G-String Arrested on DUI Charge"
Is this a blow in the War on Xmas?
Is this a blow in the War on Xmas?
Labels: headlines, my personal war on xmas