Well, it turns out that Durban dockers have refused to offload the cargo of ammunition bound for Mugabe's regime in Zimbabwe.
They have shown principle and balls where no African President has, particularly Thabo Mbeki.
The High Court in Durban has also said that the ammunition can not be shipped across South Africa.
Those waiting for Thabo Mbeki to show either principles or courage have received medical advice that holding their breath until he shows either will be fatal.
The BBC has this.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Friday, April 18, 2008
Gwyneth Dunwoody died yesterday
Now, here was a parliamentarian whom all ought to respect. A fighter, a battler and someone who would not be intimidated.
Parliament will miss her even if the whips don't.
May she rest in peace.
The BBC has this, wikipedia has this.
Gwyneth Dunwoody was MP for Crewe and Nantwich. I suspect they will sorely miss her also.
Parliament will miss her even if the whips don't.
May she rest in peace.
The BBC has this, wikipedia has this.
Gwyneth Dunwoody was MP for Crewe and Nantwich. I suspect they will sorely miss her also.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
The ridiculous harassment of photographers
There is an interesting article on the BBC website about the harassment of photographers. Apparently in one case an amateur photographer was asked for "his licence" and pointing out he did not need one did not help. A police officer took him down a side street and made him wipe his camera.
This is all bizarre because you can, and are entitle to, take any picture you want of something in a public place (barring some defence establishments) including people. What is more that also extends to taking picture of things that can be seen from a public space, so if you are driving down the road and see an extraordinary garden, you can stop and photograph it from the road or pavement without requiring permission.
Mind you that is not the first time I have heard of over zealous police not knowing what the law is in a particular circumstance.
For example a police officer thought that a learner driver could drive on his own because he had a full class H licence. Another who demanded to see the MOT on a JCB, which does not require one so you can't get one and so on.
I like to take photographs, and if I were stopped, and told I could not, I would tell them where to get off.
This is all bizarre because you can, and are entitle to, take any picture you want of something in a public place (barring some defence establishments) including people. What is more that also extends to taking picture of things that can be seen from a public space, so if you are driving down the road and see an extraordinary garden, you can stop and photograph it from the road or pavement without requiring permission.
Mind you that is not the first time I have heard of over zealous police not knowing what the law is in a particular circumstance.
For example a police officer thought that a learner driver could drive on his own because he had a full class H licence. Another who demanded to see the MOT on a JCB, which does not require one so you can't get one and so on.
I like to take photographs, and if I were stopped, and told I could not, I would tell them where to get off.
So are we in for more exam chaos?
It seems the managing director of Edexcel, Jerry Jarvis has expressed some concerns over the preparations for the new diploma system which is due to start in September, in this article in the Guardian.
Apparently the IT system that it relies on has not as yet been fully tested, and teachers have received limited training. Also it seems the establishments which are to teach them have not as yet got the guidance they need on how to teach them.
On the other hand we have had Mike Tomlinson, the former inspector of schools, and the schools minister have been on the radio saying that all is well. Firstly they say that the scheme is small, not across the whole country. Colleges who are to teach them have been vetted and teachers have been organised into self help groups.
Well, it is difficult to tell what is right. We will only know it two years time though once people start sitting exams. Experimenting in this way with children's education does concern me though.
The BBC also has this.
Apparently the IT system that it relies on has not as yet been fully tested, and teachers have received limited training. Also it seems the establishments which are to teach them have not as yet got the guidance they need on how to teach them.
On the other hand we have had Mike Tomlinson, the former inspector of schools, and the schools minister have been on the radio saying that all is well. Firstly they say that the scheme is small, not across the whole country. Colleges who are to teach them have been vetted and teachers have been organised into self help groups.
Well, it is difficult to tell what is right. We will only know it two years time though once people start sitting exams. Experimenting in this way with children's education does concern me though.
The BBC also has this.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Bank of England to leave interest rates as they are
Well, the Bank of England will no doubt actually cut its base rate, but this will have no effect on the real world where interest rates will remain unaffected.
The problem is that no one wants to lend our banks money unless they get paid well for it. That means money costs more. Unless the Bank of England is going to lend money on a serious scale (which I do not think it should) then it can't actually affect the real interest rates that much.
We are caught in an asset bubble on the way down. We will all feel a bit of pain I am afraid. I just hope it is not too much.
The problem is that no one wants to lend our banks money unless they get paid well for it. That means money costs more. Unless the Bank of England is going to lend money on a serious scale (which I do not think it should) then it can't actually affect the real interest rates that much.
We are caught in an asset bubble on the way down. We will all feel a bit of pain I am afraid. I just hope it is not too much.
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Zimbabwe Elections results miscounted: Official!
A Zanu PF spokesman, who did not wish to be named has made issued a statement:
The election results have been miscounted by the Electoral Commission of Zimbabwe. They did not realise that each vote for Zanu PF should be cherished and loved, and more importantly counted many times. We have invited the electoral commission to a secret location so that they can correct their error without being held up to public ridicule.
We do however expect the recount to take some time as some fingers of the electoral commission staff were accidentally injured whilst explaining their error to them.
We thank the people Zimbabwe for their patience and the results will be available as soon as they have been cooked enough recounted.
The BBC, on the other hand, has this.
The election results have been miscounted by the Electoral Commission of Zimbabwe. They did not realise that each vote for Zanu PF should be cherished and loved, and more importantly counted many times. We have invited the electoral commission to a secret location so that they can correct their error without being held up to public ridicule.
We do however expect the recount to take some time as some fingers of the electoral commission staff were accidentally injured whilst explaining their error to them.
We thank the people Zimbabwe for their patience and the results will be available as soon as they have been cooked enough recounted.
The BBC, on the other hand, has this.
Food riot shocker!
The Guardian reports food riots.
This is due to sharp rises in food prices.
Fair enough.
However much land has been taken out of food production in places like Africa because there is no money competing against American and European subsidised food dumping.
With a bit of luck these poor farmers can now make a dollar or two growing food again, thereby lifting people out of poverty.
This is due to sharp rises in food prices.
Fair enough.
However much land has been taken out of food production in places like Africa because there is no money competing against American and European subsidised food dumping.
With a bit of luck these poor farmers can now make a dollar or two growing food again, thereby lifting people out of poverty.
House Price Slump Shocker! Cut interest rates now! Don't panic!
There has been a 2.5% drop in house prices, according to the Halifax since last month. This is not good new for people who bought houses last month. However it is better news for first time buyers.
Thing is times are tough. For years people, like me, have been saying that house prices are out of control and that will cause a problem, for first time buyers if no one else. We have also been saying that there is a problem with the way the economy has grown on debt alone.
The banks (or rather the mortgage lenders) are saying "cut interest rates now!".
I would love to think that would help, it would if the money that the banks needed to borrow was lent by British savers. The problem is that with the lowest savings ratio for nearly 50 years, the banks are borrowing money from overseas, sovereign wealth funds, and the like. They see no need to pay attention to our central bank rates and will demand, and incidentally get, what ever interest rate they like. After all they could invest their money somewhere where property prices are on the up.
Gordon Brown says "Don't panic!"
He is right in that, after all there will be a Conservative government along in a while, who will sort out the massive mess an ignorant Labour government has created.
Thing is times are tough. For years people, like me, have been saying that house prices are out of control and that will cause a problem, for first time buyers if no one else. We have also been saying that there is a problem with the way the economy has grown on debt alone.
The banks (or rather the mortgage lenders) are saying "cut interest rates now!".
I would love to think that would help, it would if the money that the banks needed to borrow was lent by British savers. The problem is that with the lowest savings ratio for nearly 50 years, the banks are borrowing money from overseas, sovereign wealth funds, and the like. They see no need to pay attention to our central bank rates and will demand, and incidentally get, what ever interest rate they like. After all they could invest their money somewhere where property prices are on the up.
Gordon Brown says "Don't panic!"
He is right in that, after all there will be a Conservative government along in a while, who will sort out the massive mess an ignorant Labour government has created.
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Diana Inquest verdict in: What was the point?
Well, the short answer is that the point is that anyone who dies like this is entitled to an inquest, and up until now there has not been one.
That said apart from that there was no point. Clearly the only thing that would have satisfied some (I will not mention any names like Mohamed) would only have been happy had the Duke of Edinburgh been dragged from the court and stoned to death in the street.
For a number of reasons that was never going to happen.
That said there still will be conspiracy theories because they don't require evidence, just rumour.
The BBC has lots, here here and here for example.
That said you do wonder what the Daily Diana Express is going to write about next week!
That said apart from that there was no point. Clearly the only thing that would have satisfied some (I will not mention any names like Mohamed) would only have been happy had the Duke of Edinburgh been dragged from the court and stoned to death in the street.
For a number of reasons that was never going to happen.
That said there still will be conspiracy theories because they don't require evidence, just rumour.
The BBC has lots, here here and here for example.
That said you do wonder what the Daily Diana Express is going to write about next week!
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Robert Mugabe: Going, going, gone?
News is leaking out of Zimbabwe that Zanu PF and Robert Mugabe are in negotiations about his retirement.
The US State department predicts a statement shortly.
Good news I'd say.
That said, I do hope Morgan Tsvangirai does not make Mugabe's mistakes.
The BBC has this.
The US State department predicts a statement shortly.
Good news I'd say.
That said, I do hope Morgan Tsvangirai does not make Mugabe's mistakes.
The BBC has this.
Labour's Immigration case destroyed?
Todays papers carry news of a report due to be published later today from the Lords Economic Affairs Committee, which seems to attack Labour's case for the mass immigration we have had in the last 11 years.
Needless to say the Guardian has an article which is more positive for immigration than the article in the Daily Mail, whilst the Times seems to find some kind of middle ground.
The bullet points are these:
The thing is I can't see that this tells us anything new. Still it does make it harder for Labour to ignore
Needless to say the Guardian has an article which is more positive for immigration than the article in the Daily Mail, whilst the Times seems to find some kind of middle ground.
The bullet points are these:
- The £6 billion a year to the economy measure is irrelevant.
- People already here who are low earners are under pressure.
- Those who benefit are employers, immigrants and the higher paid.
The thing is I can't see that this tells us anything new. Still it does make it harder for Labour to ignore
So who has the balls to tell Mugabe he has lost?
It appears the big hold up in announcing the results of the presidential election in Zimbabwe is that no one has the balls to tell Robert Mugabe he has lost, whilst he appears not to have the power to get anyone to announce he has won.
Well, there seem to be two ways to solve this problem.
*I may be unkind when doing so, and am not in a position to promise not to laugh. A lot.
The BBC has this.
Well, there seem to be two ways to solve this problem.
- Someone go tell Morgan Tsvangirai he has one, and his first job is to tell Robert.
- Give me Roberts mobile, and I will tell him what a loser he is*.
*I may be unkind when doing so, and am not in a position to promise not to laugh. A lot.
The BBC has this.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
NUT vote against the Army!
But who cares? Did anyone ask this bunch if ignorant people, who could not teach their way out of a paper bag what they thought?
No.
So who cares?
I don't.
The NUT are an anachronism in much the same way as Arthur Scargill's NUM was. Useless and pointless, devoid of thought. Where they differ if course is that at one time the NUM had relevance, the NUT never have.
Iain Dale has this, the BBC going overboard on positive coverage of the NUM has this, this, and this.
No.
So who cares?
I don't.
The NUT are an anachronism in much the same way as Arthur Scargill's NUM was. Useless and pointless, devoid of thought. Where they differ if course is that at one time the NUM had relevance, the NUT never have.
Iain Dale has this, the BBC going overboard on positive coverage of the NUM has this, this, and this.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
More dire news for Labour! 13% behind in a new ICM poll
According to a new poll in todays Guardian by ICM the Conservatives are 13 points ahead of Labour.
The Conservatives are on 42% (+2), Labour on 29% (-2) and the Liberal Democrats are on 21% (+1).
So it looks like firm swings to the Conservatives and Boris Johnson is ahead in the London Mayoral elections.
The only thing we Conservatives have to fear is complacency. That said we need to be fiscal Conservatives before tax cutting ones. The state of the public finances is horrific.
Politicalbetting has this whilst Iain Dale has this.
The Conservatives are on 42% (+2), Labour on 29% (-2) and the Liberal Democrats are on 21% (+1).
So it looks like firm swings to the Conservatives and Boris Johnson is ahead in the London Mayoral elections.
The only thing we Conservatives have to fear is complacency. That said we need to be fiscal Conservatives before tax cutting ones. The state of the public finances is horrific.
Politicalbetting has this whilst Iain Dale has this.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Conservatives 16% ahead in latest poll as Labour drop to an all time low!
There is a YouGov poll in tomorrows Sunday Times which has the Conservative party on 43% (+3), Labour on 27% (-6) and the Liberal Democrats on 16% (No change). This is a good pol for us and terrible for Labour. It would give David Cameron a majority of 122 which is staggering.
There is also a poll by ICM in the News of the World which gives the Conservatives 40% (+3), Labour 31% (-3) and the Liberal Democrats 20% (-1). That would lead to hung parliament with the Conservatives as the largest party on 313 seats compared to 259 Labour.
There is also a poll by ICM in the News of the World which gives the Conservatives 40% (+3), Labour 31% (-3) and the Liberal Democrats 20% (-1). That would lead to hung parliament with the Conservatives as the largest party on 313 seats compared to 259 Labour.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Geraldine Ferraro stands down!
Well, I just heard it on ABC news.
So much for the cover the Clinton campaign has given. She should have been fired ages ago.
So much for the cover the Clinton campaign has given. She should have been fired ages ago.
Barack Obama is only where he is because he is a black man!
According to Geraldine Ferraro, a senior member of Hilary Clinton's campaign team.
Geraldine stood as the VP candidate with Walter Mondale in 1984.
Upon getting some flack for these ridiculous remarks, she said that people were being racist because she was white.
Hilary Clinton has "regretted" the comments, but not fired her, and has sent people out to defend her. See this thread on politicalbetting.com and look at the MSN video for how well this is going down.
The bizarre thing is that it may be true that candidates who are not white males may well get where they are when they would not if they are white males. (Geraldine maintains he would not have got there if he was a black woman). However Barack Obama is one of the greatest orators I have heard speak, on a par with people like Michael Heseltine, maybe even above. In short he could turn up at Klu Kux Klan meeting and stand a good chance of getting a standing ovation.
There is no one in American politics, and possibly world wide politics today who is as good at inspiring people.
Barack Obama is where he is today despite being black. If he was white this contest would have been done and dusted months ago. He is simply the best public speaker of his age.
JFK was no Barack Obama. He is simply that good.
Geraldine stood as the VP candidate with Walter Mondale in 1984.
Upon getting some flack for these ridiculous remarks, she said that people were being racist because she was white.
Hilary Clinton has "regretted" the comments, but not fired her, and has sent people out to defend her. See this thread on politicalbetting.com and look at the MSN video for how well this is going down.
The bizarre thing is that it may be true that candidates who are not white males may well get where they are when they would not if they are white males. (Geraldine maintains he would not have got there if he was a black woman). However Barack Obama is one of the greatest orators I have heard speak, on a par with people like Michael Heseltine, maybe even above. In short he could turn up at Klu Kux Klan meeting and stand a good chance of getting a standing ovation.
There is no one in American politics, and possibly world wide politics today who is as good at inspiring people.
Barack Obama is where he is today despite being black. If he was white this contest would have been done and dusted months ago. He is simply the best public speaker of his age.
JFK was no Barack Obama. He is simply that good.
Bio Fuel duty set to rise by 20 per litre?
Alistair Darling gave the budget today, as expected.
His forecasts were somewhat more rosy than most independent commentators, and he did not do that much.
He did put up cigarettes, beer wine and spirits though, so the ferries are going to be busy.
The one thing he did not mention but is hidden away in the red book is the removal of the tax differential on bio fuels, worth something like 20p per litre, effective from 2010 where it will according to chapter 1, page 9, raise £550 million.
According to various other bits of the red book (See pages 7, 89, 95, and 107) this is all to encourage sustainable bio fuels, via the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation or RTFO. Hooray I hear you say! (Or not as the case may be). However the problem is there is no corresponding account of how much the RTFO will cost the treasury.
In short the government is either taking £550 million by ditching the tax differential on bio fuels, a very un green measure, or it is not accounting for the RTFO in which case the budget has got yet more dodgy figures in it.
Good eh?
His forecasts were somewhat more rosy than most independent commentators, and he did not do that much.
He did put up cigarettes, beer wine and spirits though, so the ferries are going to be busy.
The one thing he did not mention but is hidden away in the red book is the removal of the tax differential on bio fuels, worth something like 20p per litre, effective from 2010 where it will according to chapter 1, page 9, raise £550 million.
According to various other bits of the red book (See pages 7, 89, 95, and 107) this is all to encourage sustainable bio fuels, via the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation or RTFO. Hooray I hear you say! (Or not as the case may be). However the problem is there is no corresponding account of how much the RTFO will cost the treasury.
In short the government is either taking £550 million by ditching the tax differential on bio fuels, a very un green measure, or it is not accounting for the RTFO in which case the budget has got yet more dodgy figures in it.
Good eh?
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
A difficult budget
Alistair Darling will present his first budget today. We already know it is going to be a bit of a dogs breakfast, because of the hurriedly announced measures in the pre budget report to "shoot the Tory fox" have been found out. They neither shoot the Conservative foxes, nor do they answer the questions the Conservative policies proffered.
However, it goes deeper.
This budget will be the most difficult since 1997, when Labour came to power. It will in fact be worse than that and probably be the worst since 1991.
Labour inherited an economy in good shape, with good prospects, but has squandered that.
I have no doubt there will be rabbits from the hat, but once on the plate and examined there will not be much meat there. Instead expect the chancellor to dodge the golden rules by moving the goal posts.
However, it goes deeper.
This budget will be the most difficult since 1997, when Labour came to power. It will in fact be worse than that and probably be the worst since 1991.
Labour inherited an economy in good shape, with good prospects, but has squandered that.
I have no doubt there will be rabbits from the hat, but once on the plate and examined there will not be much meat there. Instead expect the chancellor to dodge the golden rules by moving the goal posts.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
What is the punishment for unauthorised reincarnation?
Some time ago, China passed a law which made it illegal for Tibetans to reincarnate without permission from the state.
This is of course bizarre on a number of different levels.
Firstly, a supposedly atheist country China, is in its laws, accepting religion. Secondly by laws, it seems it intends on controlling the supernatural.
However, you do have to wonder what the Chinese government proposes to do with offenders.
Imprisonment?
The death penalty?
And if the death penalty, what do you do with repeat offenders?
Re offending not normally a problem you have when the penalty is death, but in the case of reincarnation, it clearly could be.
The Chinese are of course nuts. They can't control the people of Tibet because the do not want to be controlled. China is in fact an imperialist power just like Russia occupying lands that are not theirs gained by conquest and held by force, unlike the British Empire which has relinquished all land gained by force where it is not held by consent*.
*Diego Garcia excepted as a Labour government sold its people down the river handing the land over to the USA for a military base and therefore not holding that land by consent. In all other territories, the land is held by the consent of those who live there.
This is of course bizarre on a number of different levels.
Firstly, a supposedly atheist country China, is in its laws, accepting religion. Secondly by laws, it seems it intends on controlling the supernatural.
However, you do have to wonder what the Chinese government proposes to do with offenders.
Imprisonment?
The death penalty?
And if the death penalty, what do you do with repeat offenders?
Re offending not normally a problem you have when the penalty is death, but in the case of reincarnation, it clearly could be.
The Chinese are of course nuts. They can't control the people of Tibet because the do not want to be controlled. China is in fact an imperialist power just like Russia occupying lands that are not theirs gained by conquest and held by force, unlike the British Empire which has relinquished all land gained by force where it is not held by consent*.
*Diego Garcia excepted as a Labour government sold its people down the river handing the land over to the USA for a military base and therefore not holding that land by consent. In all other territories, the land is held by the consent of those who live there.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
