tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29373567130991459042024-02-06T21:36:54.804-08:00Conform, Consume, ObeyAn occasional rant from the fringes of life - and Essex.Roger O Thornhillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14494843986294936586noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2937356713099145904.post-84109193455243587842012-08-28T08:20:00.001-07:002012-08-28T08:20:18.075-07:00Tweets Of The WeekThis week's collection starts with an excellent article from David Allen Green, a man whose output (both on Twitter and elsewhere) is well worth following. The letter in the Times carries somewhat less gravitas...
Possibly the best thing about Twitter is the jokes. It's swimming with them. Most aren't funny, but here are a few below that are (at least in my opinion). All these contributors are regularly amusing, and well worth adding to your timeline if you are on Twitter. If you're not, then I suggest you register now, and follow them.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center"><p>So again, this is the source-based <a href="https://twitter.com/newstatesman"><s>@</s><b>newstatesman</b></a> post the operator of <a href="https://twitter.com/wikileaks"><s>@</s><b>wikileaks</b></a> account is so desperate to discredit: <a href="http://t.co/VLT4vyTg" title="http://bit.ly/NEf8vm">bit.ly/NEf8vm</a></p>— David Allen Green (@DavidAllenGreen) <a href="https://twitter.com/DavidAllenGreen/status/238531893983866880" data-datetime="2012-08-23T07:03:29+00:00">August 23, 2012</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center"><p>Superb reader letter in The Times <a href="http://t.co/nM1cDMZZ" title="http://instagr.am/p/OpZePCw7Vu/">instagr.am/p/OpZePCw7Vu/</a> ht <a href="https://twitter.com/drmarkporter"><s>@</s><b>drmarkporter</b></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/kayaburgess"><s>@</s><b>kayaburgess</b></a> via <a href="https://twitter.com/jonhilldesign"><s>@</s><b>jonhilldesign</b></a></p>— Sue Llewellyn (@suellewellyn) <a href="https://twitter.com/suellewellyn/status/238532796149276673" data-datetime="2012-08-23T07:07:04+00:00">August 23, 2012</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center"><p>More on that break on pages 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 11, 12 and our special supplement RT <a href="https://twitter.com/rupertmurdoch"><s>@</s><b>rupertmurdoch</b></a>: Prince Harry.Give him a break.</p>— Matt Leys (@mattleys) <a href="https://twitter.com/mattleys/status/239640555624222720" data-datetime="2012-08-26T08:28:55+00:00">August 26, 2012</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center"><p>Just walked into the kitchen and caught the teapot hurling some horrendous racial abuse at the kettle.</p>— Chris (@ChribHibble) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChribHibble/status/240165628323975169" data-datetime="2012-08-27T19:15:22+00:00">August 27, 2012</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center"><p>Found a secret door in the back of my washing machine. Behind it a tiny room with rows of mice fast asleep in odd sock sleeping bags.</p>— Moose Allain (@MooseAllain) <a href="https://twitter.com/MooseAllain/status/240187914020081664" data-datetime="2012-08-27T20:43:55+00:00">August 27, 2012</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center"><p>My girlfriend just bought a ruler from Smiths. Heaven knows I'm measurable now.</p>— Sixth Form Poet (@sixthformpoet) <a href="https://twitter.com/sixthformpoet/status/240437065425235968" data-datetime="2012-08-28T13:13:58+00:00">August 28, 2012</a></blockquote>
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Roger O Thornhillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14494843986294936586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2937356713099145904.post-17389797371702572782012-08-21T04:45:00.001-07:002012-08-21T04:45:17.903-07:00Tweets Of The WeekWell worth following the links posted by FleetStreetFox and Channel4News. One will have you spitting bricks with anger, the other sobbing into your pint. Probably.
Personally, I'm really looking forward to Piers Morgan living up to his promise.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center"><p>Just read instruction manual for how to build Time Machine. That's 3 hours of my life I'll never get back.</p>— rufus jones (@rufusjones1) <a href="https://twitter.com/rufusjones1/status/235727133308223489" data-datetime="2012-08-15T13:18:22+00:00">August 15, 2012</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center"><p>now we all know <a href="https://twitter.com/piersmorgan"><s>@</s><b>piersmorgan</b></a> is a man of his word so... <a href="http://t.co/k1dotAgl" title="http://twitter.com/jwidnell/status/235805967630077952/photo/1">twitter.com/jwidnell/statu…</a></p>— Rachel Roberts (@scouserachel) <a href="https://twitter.com/scouserachel/status/235807866290843648" data-datetime="2012-08-15T18:39:11+00:00">August 15, 2012</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center"><p>Claustrophobia: a fear of being in enclosed spaces with a fictional large jolly man in a red suit with a white beard. <a href="https://twitter.com/search/?q=%23ued"><s>#</s><b>ued</b></a></p>— whyzippyisorange (@wzio) <a href="https://twitter.com/wzio/status/236180052482600961" data-datetime="2012-08-16T19:18:07+00:00">August 16, 2012</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center"><p>So the taxman dodges more tax than the rest of us put together. Who'da thunk it? <a href="http://t.co/T1YFsRpg" title="http://bit.ly/N2qg9O">bit.ly/N2qg9O</a></p>— fleetstreetfox (@fleetstreetfox) <a href="https://twitter.com/fleetstreetfox/status/236181923179921410" data-datetime="2012-08-16T19:25:33+00:00">August 16, 2012</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center"><p>One of our most moving interviews <a href="https://twitter.com/cathynewman"><s>@</s><b>cathynewman</b></a> speaks to Tony Nicklinson <a href="https://twitter.com/search/?q=%23c4news"><s>#</s><b>c4news</b></a> <a href="http://t.co/6zO651bk" title="http://bit.ly/RZJXQp">bit.ly/RZJXQp</a> plus blog: <a href="http://t.co/TFminQhs" title="http://bit.ly/Nq6vVi">bit.ly/Nq6vVi</a></p>— Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) <a href="https://twitter.com/Channel4News/status/236188516193800192" data-datetime="2012-08-16T19:51:45+00:00">August 16, 2012</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center"><p>Volga News. That Kasparov arrest in full. White (K) e4 Black (FSB) blow to head(!); Kf4 - knee to groin(!); d3(?) - club to ribs+ (!!); 0-1</p>— Pavel Konnolsky (@Konnolsky) <a href="https://twitter.com/Konnolsky/status/236434954299531264" data-datetime="2012-08-17T12:11:00+00:00">August 17, 2012</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center"><p>To secure Tesco's Monday AM slot, I order 1 thing Friday then amend it with my shopping on Sunday. I forgot. Just took delivery of an onion.</p>— Stephen Grant (@stephencgrant) <a href="https://twitter.com/stephencgrant/status/237457200589701120" data-datetime="2012-08-20T07:53:03+00:00">August 20, 2012</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center"><p>The people coming up with irritating portmanteaus like "Glamping" and "Jeggings" can go fumselves.</p>— Michael Spicer (@MrMichaelSpicer) <a href="https://twitter.com/MrMichaelSpicer/status/237641721599623168" data-datetime="2012-08-20T20:06:16+00:00">August 20, 2012</a></blockquote>
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Roger O Thornhillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14494843986294936586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2937356713099145904.post-84865873429334860712012-08-14T00:23:00.001-07:002012-08-14T00:23:35.856-07:00Tweets Of The WeekThis week's selection includes another mention for 'cluedont', and a first mention each for the brilliant 'MooseAllain' and 'utterben'. Gary Bainbridge's column in the Liverpool Daily Post is also great fun.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center"><p>If Kerry Katona would have been around at the same time as Moses I think there would have been another commandment.</p>— cluedont (@cluedont) <a href="https://twitter.com/cluedont/status/233217632432685056" data-datetime="2012-08-08T15:06:31+00:00">August 8, 2012</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center"><p>That <a href="https://twitter.com/phillucas"><s>@</s><b>phillucas</b></a> (<a href="https://twitter.com/search/?q=%23ff"><s>#</s><b>ff</b></a>) always takes Make Something Up Thursday so seriously... <a href="http://t.co/pIDfHsHx" title="http://twitter.com/PhilLucas/status/233447384997322752/photo/1">twitter.com/PhilLucas/stat…</a></p>— GlennyRodge (@GlennyRodge) <a href="https://twitter.com/GlennyRodge/status/233449200929611776" data-datetime="2012-08-09T06:26:41+00:00">August 9, 2012</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center"><p>These 22 gold medals now equate to 110 seconds in the Crystal dome. <a href="https://twitter.com/search/?q=%23Olympics"><s>#</s><b>Olympics</b></a></p>— Stephen Grant (@stephencgrant) <a href="https://twitter.com/stephencgrant/status/233476315058143234" data-datetime="2012-08-09T08:14:25+00:00">August 9, 2012</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center"><p>As night descends on Gotham,* a lone protector watches from the rooftops.** COLUMN: <a href="http://t.co/N6AgHlhT" title="http://bit.ly/Npv43Q">bit.ly/Npv43Q</a>” *Liverpool **goes on Twitter</p>— Gary Bainbridge (@Gary_Bainbridge) <a href="https://twitter.com/Gary_Bainbridge/status/233674560921292800" data-datetime="2012-08-09T21:22:11+00:00">August 9, 2012</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center"><p>Isambard Kingdom Buñuel built the Great Western Surrealway.</p>— Moose Allain (@MooseAllain) <a href="https://twitter.com/MooseAllain/status/233852243764449280" data-datetime="2012-08-10T09:08:14+00:00">August 10, 2012</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center"><p>A Sunday morning without a cup of tea is like invading a country without a motive.</p>— Ben (@utterben) <a href="https://twitter.com/utterben/status/234581221127094272" data-datetime="2012-08-12T09:24:56+00:00">August 12, 2012</a></blockquote>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>Roger O Thornhillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14494843986294936586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2937356713099145904.post-25067183516601912012-08-07T00:31:00.001-07:002012-08-07T00:31:42.748-07:00Tweets Of The WeekThis week's selection includes a couple of chortles, and more than the odd reference to the London 2012 Olympic Games.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center"><p>Standing barefoot on a plug is a great way of discovering you can do an impression of a chimp lowering itself into a really hot bath.</p>— Chris (@ChribHibble) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChribHibble/status/230007807968174081" data-datetime="2012-07-30T18:31:49+00:00">July 30, 2012</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center"><p>I have just achieved a personal best in the Men's 750 ml Merlot.</p>— cluedont (@cluedont) <a href="https://twitter.com/cluedont/status/230383372990554112" data-datetime="2012-07-31T19:24:11+00:00">July 31, 2012</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center"><p>We're nothing if we're not loved. When you meet somebody who is more important to you than yourself,that has to be the most important thing.</p>— Joe Simpson (@TouchingTheVoid) <a href="https://twitter.com/TouchingTheVoid/status/230596335483645952" data-datetime="2012-08-01T09:30:25+00:00">August 1, 2012</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center"><p>I made a ventriloquist's dummy out of some old carpet, it's ruggish.</p>— Neil (@_Enanem_) <a href="https://twitter.com/_Enanem_/status/230631716740530176" data-datetime="2012-08-01T11:51:00+00:00">August 1, 2012</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center"><p>Don't know why people are surprised that Cam's presence at Olympic events is jinxing British success. Have they not noticed his stint as PM?</p>— Sir Robin Bogg (@robinbogg) <a href="https://twitter.com/robinbogg/status/231046906510462976" data-datetime="2012-08-02T15:20:49+00:00">August 2, 2012</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center"><p>I think it's safe to say <a href="https://twitter.com/nickmotown"><s>@</s><b>nickmotown</b></a> won this particular exchange:<a href="http://t.co/vPWzvOqX" title="http://twitpic.com/afoyvm">twitpic.com/afoyvm</a></p>— Doug (@unslugged) <a href="https://twitter.com/unslugged/status/232015319223377921" data-datetime="2012-08-05T07:28:57+00:00">August 5, 2012</a></blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgk9fAHybCJJyr-1tZISUoG6W6xdEeUdRWX3KCHlSVJqfKTdCxHMQvXgPzvXer0RRdjghSMZo-J4U7vwCaE8dFGqONrKVQDMMieszf4zthHpBeQeEEuN2R0Vnlk8QleBbKt2GktqYcJg5u/s1600/nickmotown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="400" width="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgk9fAHybCJJyr-1tZISUoG6W6xdEeUdRWX3KCHlSVJqfKTdCxHMQvXgPzvXer0RRdjghSMZo-J4U7vwCaE8dFGqONrKVQDMMieszf4zthHpBeQeEEuN2R0Vnlk8QleBbKt2GktqYcJg5u/s400/nickmotown.jpg" /></a></div>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center"><p>From last night, the BBC commentary box during the closing stages of Mo Farah's victory... <a href="http://t.co/E3V7ag7n" title="http://goo.gl/OLMEy">goo.gl/OLMEy</a></p>— @NickMotown (@NickMotown) <a href="https://twitter.com/NickMotown/status/232165093411016704" data-datetime="2012-08-05T17:24:06+00:00">August 5, 2012</a></blockquote>
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<iframe width="853" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/KUOl7PgggZw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Roger O Thornhillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14494843986294936586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2937356713099145904.post-73110477615614940882012-07-31T02:26:00.000-07:002012-07-31T02:26:36.030-07:00Tweets Of The WeekI missed a lot of good Twitter this week, but still came across a few gems.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center"><p>Pedants look forward to a dstypoian future.</p>— jacques_as_in_hattie (@jacques_aih) <a href="https://twitter.com/jacques_aih/status/228065104267210752" data-datetime="2012-07-25T09:52:12+00:00">July 25, 2012</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center"><p>Why David Cameron is the ultimate "seagull" manager ~ my latest for @<a href="https://twitter.com/NewStatesman">NewStatesman</a> <a href="http://t.co/NO2vC6f7" title="http://bit.ly/NWnz4T">bit.ly/NWnz4T</a></p>— Alex Andreou (@sturdyAlex) <a href="https://twitter.com/sturdyAlex/status/228077796486950912" data-datetime="2012-07-25T10:42:38+00:00">July 25, 2012</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center"><p>Whenever I read about a robbery being bungled, it never surprises me. It can't be easy to get in and out quickly in that stupid bear outfit.</p>— cluedont (@cluedont) <a href="https://twitter.com/cluedont/status/228115340448632832" data-datetime="2012-07-25T13:11:49+00:00">July 25, 2012</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center"><p>Proctor & Gamble, you cannot sponsor Mums. For starters, my official sponsors, Strongbow & Toblerone, won't like it.</p>— Scriblit (@Scriblit) <a href="https://twitter.com/Scriblit/status/228899057588908032" data-datetime="2012-07-27T17:06:02+00:00">July 27, 2012</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center"><p>Can anyone tell me when the first heats of this are? It's really the only sport I'm into to be honest.<a href="http://t.co/aMqZxwND" title="http://danielnothing.tumblr.com/post/28133835480/tokyo">danielnothing.tumblr.com/post/281338354…</a></p>— Daniel O Nothing (@DanielNothing) <a href="https://twitter.com/DanielNothing/status/228898073076695042" data-datetime="2012-07-27T17:02:08+00:00">July 27, 2012</a></blockquote>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>Roger O Thornhillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14494843986294936586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2937356713099145904.post-57926186509581715222012-07-24T09:03:00.001-07:002012-07-24T09:03:44.869-07:00Tweets Of The WeekSeeing as I'm failing to blog very frequently, here's a new feature. Let's see how many weeks go by before I fail to do this too.
For your enjoyment, my favourite tweets of the past week or so. That is all.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center"><p>Another weekend pic. G4S Olympic recruitment propaganda poster: <a href="https://t.co/vrcHmM7S" title="https://twitpic.com/aakwl6">twitpic.com/aakwl6</a></p>— beaubodor (@beaubodor) <a href="https://twitter.com/beaubodor/status/227356229234724865" data-datetime="2012-07-23T10:55:23+00:00">July 23, 2012</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center"><p>Expect the unexbadgers.</p>— cluedont (@cluedont) <a href="https://twitter.com/cluedont/status/227349617124204544" data-datetime="2012-07-23T10:29:07+00:00">July 23, 2012</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center"><p>Things to do in IKEA; mime smothering someone with each type of cushion. Try to roll yourself up in a rug. Try the meatballs.</p>— Maria (@Twistedlilkitty) <a href="https://twitter.com/Twistedlilkitty/status/226994855967080448" data-datetime="2012-07-22T10:59:25+00:00">July 22, 2012</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet tw-align-center"><p>Cassetteboy + Boris + Olympics = Joy <a href="http://t.co/BAxTwdpp" title="http://youtu.be/zEDFMKjhLRw">youtu.be/zEDFMKjhLRw</a></p>— Martin Robbins (@mjrobbins) <a href="https://twitter.com/mjrobbins/status/227712246497820674" data-datetime="2012-07-24T10:30:04+00:00">July 24, 2012</a></blockquote>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>Roger O Thornhillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14494843986294936586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2937356713099145904.post-53572286367375649632012-05-05T01:39:00.001-07:002012-05-05T01:39:15.711-07:00InstaLondonJust a bit of fun. An iPhone 3GS, the Instagram app, and the world's greatest city. <div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJohsZsLN8c1pH_Rlhj_cjiOaSsTJwin8VGKu5Sbk9pfM_vCstg_oy5_qnZGUfxoY-hgYpH8ok59v6ZOPNuClg7MBuh0br7EVAnILyfvZSL0xtdfxbV_zWdLtF3-vRsfLNnYCjfdWqR2ro/s640/blogger-image--138448385.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJohsZsLN8c1pH_Rlhj_cjiOaSsTJwin8VGKu5Sbk9pfM_vCstg_oy5_qnZGUfxoY-hgYpH8ok59v6ZOPNuClg7MBuh0br7EVAnILyfvZSL0xtdfxbV_zWdLtF3-vRsfLNnYCjfdWqR2ro/s640/blogger-image--138448385.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPUU2FxVHLpXdNqn_qI1YLrri9-EF5cxGVo9amEMl0Bv7QjQF5dz7zUsqmiYqq7dw3eHjCKskTEWpNUJlx_2BM-A0DVqFTslUh2FAwtLLZ6Tz-JZhbDt2cP7iyhezR2voCarungXMOoTEL/s640/blogger-image--1769242374.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix7Qtnx_cc1yTXWT6zsUn2vEDyX43yF_igmrmhh3Xjx07W5j4idAI-dh68xgMhFLrYeubugWzeVz4Bx5PyKSo5_ZIVTY7VidbwaTvar3WXpvhNLCrsPktEYb8BYqpgB3VdUJY8szOhUQVO/s640/blogger-image--1147097417.jpg" /></a></div>Roger O Thornhillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14494843986294936586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2937356713099145904.post-34491040945265641822012-04-08T12:44:00.003-07:002012-04-09T04:27:08.279-07:00Champions<br />
I have been away, for reasons I hope to explain in a future blog post. For now, though....<br />
<br />
I recently went to a Sunday League football match. A friend is the team's coach, and another friend the team's rock at centre half. I took a few snaps on my iPhone, and had a play with them. Our team won 3-0, and won the league. A good day. <br />
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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMmOO9BS86uLeWxwz1TGdbfc5Ri6gDtRUMLjKg6fA6MvKL2z9-Wav-mFh212DL4iEr64MkwW9xXwSc7yxeIQBDspt8BAZ3vuBY9fot0jGSc2xO0Jq5gfYVRgrRMZ0ffcNWnj50A9RlrSXr/s640/blogger-image--535663769.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMmOO9BS86uLeWxwz1TGdbfc5Ri6gDtRUMLjKg6fA6MvKL2z9-Wav-mFh212DL4iEr64MkwW9xXwSc7yxeIQBDspt8BAZ3vuBY9fot0jGSc2xO0Jq5gfYVRgrRMZ0ffcNWnj50A9RlrSXr/s640/blogger-image--535663769.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4EWhwgri1mRR0JbeTiDISjSix68vvBaa9z8veNAdPtcYwo5iGfMiI-oyrngxLwU9fURGKWvEBAA0sAYfVkpLHHNVy7zXObPZdtVQ1qiOhJSYpgb1_kZAY-CwUPKw6HgGEPWJeUMP2Pt7e/s640/blogger-image--1626534511.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4EWhwgri1mRR0JbeTiDISjSix68vvBaa9z8veNAdPtcYwo5iGfMiI-oyrngxLwU9fURGKWvEBAA0sAYfVkpLHHNVy7zXObPZdtVQ1qiOhJSYpgb1_kZAY-CwUPKw6HgGEPWJeUMP2Pt7e/s640/blogger-image--1626534511.jpg" /></a></div>Roger O Thornhillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14494843986294936586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2937356713099145904.post-42161720154756421822011-11-20T23:30:00.001-08:002011-11-20T23:36:20.454-08:00Tiltshift LondonI've been playing with a new app on my phone. Just a bit of fun. Here are the results when you mess about with a few photos of London.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk_Vle-Q7VqrxBdHwrJ29gbHAVBls3fP28joK91iszf7giRohEthxvI56jKRo6-syTXFKAvR1Si3gwcOK4eydgO2KzfE3-SI0zF-xkjSzK76Lngdlwpt6KtQldXd-XWhuyrkLcOKSOmOtT/s1600/wharf1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk_Vle-Q7VqrxBdHwrJ29gbHAVBls3fP28joK91iszf7giRohEthxvI56jKRo6-syTXFKAvR1Si3gwcOK4eydgO2KzfE3-SI0zF-xkjSzK76Lngdlwpt6KtQldXd-XWhuyrkLcOKSOmOtT/s400/wharf1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677349118379530130" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7pPB1Hfo6mLyeS4o6zRExUCK5aTdU6nZbQ10-pgNSexMheQJRfagyrM6JrVXpPjB-A3RG-OA1LnIzcQ2vq8mlmYnU_IQIrsr7eiyurMT5Ed1G-5a2fsVXKeZL5WXY_z2wSDrXnuLhUxrq/s1600/site.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7pPB1Hfo6mLyeS4o6zRExUCK5aTdU6nZbQ10-pgNSexMheQJRfagyrM6JrVXpPjB-A3RG-OA1LnIzcQ2vq8mlmYnU_IQIrsr7eiyurMT5Ed1G-5a2fsVXKeZL5WXY_z2wSDrXnuLhUxrq/s400/site.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677349052331689970" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif82kuHG_9P4Qqjs2EKk4ZI4NtnPD4MQlwSgqCvkrmO_pdmP_GFxYpcQ4aIfdv-3wwwG5ApfknG1c1TpoYHVKlwU3lCCbmV_rGGJ2IYVF5H0VdnChddvm6gt4qYg0ofHnlZZ6GR39G1D72/s1600/parliament1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif82kuHG_9P4Qqjs2EKk4ZI4NtnPD4MQlwSgqCvkrmO_pdmP_GFxYpcQ4aIfdv-3wwwG5ApfknG1c1TpoYHVKlwU3lCCbmV_rGGJ2IYVF5H0VdnChddvm6gt4qYg0ofHnlZZ6GR39G1D72/s400/parliament1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677349000018176322" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEfyNlwhjqDpNizAh2plQO_F1Q7aBhkyZ9saYAI3pV87mvpLrshbGN6nNX-BAvFcPnB_lnA6TX-igjSUteT7x_M-AJcUaAU2feTC_NR_smwYtKKVvLV90CpJKo2c-83QMmWslOuePfA_SW/s1600/emirates.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEfyNlwhjqDpNizAh2plQO_F1Q7aBhkyZ9saYAI3pV87mvpLrshbGN6nNX-BAvFcPnB_lnA6TX-igjSUteT7x_M-AJcUaAU2feTC_NR_smwYtKKVvLV90CpJKo2c-83QMmWslOuePfA_SW/s400/emirates.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677348938494953394" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkHbUqDdFcVqddS4KPkJqeN49oDegvrkUUd0VLVztrd7QPp7OLmU1s5FT7nmkQXZsVNMSitYas3ZXVtt99Ci6CejE8igrUF1sXBtRYV7j-3fBT3WwCnQB9BPZncq1petKoTWDYXbBP4w64/s1600/wharf3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkHbUqDdFcVqddS4KPkJqeN49oDegvrkUUd0VLVztrd7QPp7OLmU1s5FT7nmkQXZsVNMSitYas3ZXVtt99Ci6CejE8igrUF1sXBtRYV7j-3fBT3WwCnQB9BPZncq1petKoTWDYXbBP4w64/s400/wharf3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677348885815283362" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz1iZRtr3E2n1-Sgx_4S7bYSZUQEzgx4p1_Xj8PVURpS2rbY-_9W78Ce-qziomR3bv9Kadmz_Obi1DgOpA_I7IcjOHkeZ7iuH9to6BSHdELlVHPrJsMUeHWK9-TOmlFxYGGic_X_huBvBQ/s1600/towerbridge.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz1iZRtr3E2n1-Sgx_4S7bYSZUQEzgx4p1_Xj8PVURpS2rbY-_9W78Ce-qziomR3bv9Kadmz_Obi1DgOpA_I7IcjOHkeZ7iuH9to6BSHdELlVHPrJsMUeHWK9-TOmlFxYGGic_X_huBvBQ/s400/towerbridge.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677348831092982914" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRn-j1GKO0E88JtQ7_l8-eecnc4noQJKo9ibYAWe9HkXPWxRLD_4JoXhvfonxIkGARrGBndtNevr_I__qP_YIQ-z8f7DDhp5YSUnhnIMyYhPeDBGk1_NJXejNRvtsR8KXwPaaZr_LvTDux/s1600/parliament3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRn-j1GKO0E88JtQ7_l8-eecnc4noQJKo9ibYAWe9HkXPWxRLD_4JoXhvfonxIkGARrGBndtNevr_I__qP_YIQ-z8f7DDhp5YSUnhnIMyYhPeDBGk1_NJXejNRvtsR8KXwPaaZr_LvTDux/s400/parliament3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677348749663008002" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyLaMIkQ_YVrWy3faU8-Mh_s8aF-KF_TOtVnRjpPlXMsyqyHNAr4rnPSPWmdSUuGgbeeqYelS6Bp_mZwl9EuxZMeACzVIkgyLWUeDuicOf2h7EVq1ju3JNxX6iA-B3DwCe7J4hM-8AOsSy/s1600/liverpoolst.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyLaMIkQ_YVrWy3faU8-Mh_s8aF-KF_TOtVnRjpPlXMsyqyHNAr4rnPSPWmdSUuGgbeeqYelS6Bp_mZwl9EuxZMeACzVIkgyLWUeDuicOf2h7EVq1ju3JNxX6iA-B3DwCe7J4hM-8AOsSy/s400/liverpoolst.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677348683578410226" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf0V8_KerfCQ573FqJp0S72t5-mIItN6C1cVLZxMGCyRWIj_wushhwcVXBZgzr6b1ho95EJGBQK1rHLJzh5uFWdmVbMQNIDTHkTFTBU26Y2gWXzB3n1FZp7oCnq0YwM1ts0pL6dWN3MDau/s1600/barbican2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf0V8_KerfCQ573FqJp0S72t5-mIItN6C1cVLZxMGCyRWIj_wushhwcVXBZgzr6b1ho95EJGBQK1rHLJzh5uFWdmVbMQNIDTHkTFTBU26Y2gWXzB3n1FZp7oCnq0YwM1ts0pL6dWN3MDau/s400/barbican2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677348630277879714" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkKVpO6oS-WnueBo2GiQWwHoa-uRWkUk2_z8r6sxxjdkdJQiUUBRPKT2CWm7ngT9bjz0E-19COnaakRg0o9pcMm-UuINyASV_IrDO9g5WIC3Fw3oW5g75u5jR9hs1Xw-xRO67iXuFYwz-H/s1600/wharf2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkKVpO6oS-WnueBo2GiQWwHoa-uRWkUk2_z8r6sxxjdkdJQiUUBRPKT2CWm7ngT9bjz0E-19COnaakRg0o9pcMm-UuINyASV_IrDO9g5WIC3Fw3oW5g75u5jR9hs1Xw-xRO67iXuFYwz-H/s400/wharf2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677348566710123074" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvtXOZt1fx307db1Dz8WjDZ15iQx_q5y8pTk0I55UGtZJd8e_mIhXdFgyK0Agm_7D3cJVULnFJrU1z2D8gkGZvntJ4DybtiTy9Qq_VFjnSJjgVRiZNAXhtmmZ2oc5b7hh6MoS3dMkAa5Lc/s1600/street.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvtXOZt1fx307db1Dz8WjDZ15iQx_q5y8pTk0I55UGtZJd8e_mIhXdFgyK0Agm_7D3cJVULnFJrU1z2D8gkGZvntJ4DybtiTy9Qq_VFjnSJjgVRiZNAXhtmmZ2oc5b7hh6MoS3dMkAa5Lc/s400/street.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677348500522653826" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGyq-DGY52ucdHJ25MYZMxbsLj5baKYFK8qUeURqmyNmkHLp6YvUAzAh1O3rtAwD_Knk9F6THRt3pnT5QpadDQinkC0NXO8GY1yaZwMkDfsX1k91RftiTyAlNu8zhfoHg0RB4j3ACNZz8x/s1600/parliament2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGyq-DGY52ucdHJ25MYZMxbsLj5baKYFK8qUeURqmyNmkHLp6YvUAzAh1O3rtAwD_Knk9F6THRt3pnT5QpadDQinkC0NXO8GY1yaZwMkDfsX1k91RftiTyAlNu8zhfoHg0RB4j3ACNZz8x/s400/parliament2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677348438831868738" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUoHNgSVuXSLPsly0GiaThIDnqSGCETpQXhOd-TWJUT5-KEsA8aIkj27ZasQ3AJJD0Ni1FMm-aOpncpRHqqpl9nVYxY1Yjtj9uIRWO39OwOyJ74rhUbwcayG4ZcFCX50cCrQxSlxf_785i/s1600/gherkin.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUoHNgSVuXSLPsly0GiaThIDnqSGCETpQXhOd-TWJUT5-KEsA8aIkj27ZasQ3AJJD0Ni1FMm-aOpncpRHqqpl9nVYxY1Yjtj9uIRWO39OwOyJ74rhUbwcayG4ZcFCX50cCrQxSlxf_785i/s400/gherkin.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677348376274380194" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCP0fjbaAaLLts0VF75L4941PowJ7fKXUU4AS8bv0ylWN_tpvhCvfeuwBd1kZUp2yMxsmX7qIyJYGsc3J-r2nyrSbEPLYLjqmUM3IFlbYEbPX_E5RO_o5XWUiucqQy-Gm1XfbUoyBUArMj/s1600/barbican1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCP0fjbaAaLLts0VF75L4941PowJ7fKXUU4AS8bv0ylWN_tpvhCvfeuwBd1kZUp2yMxsmX7qIyJYGsc3J-r2nyrSbEPLYLjqmUM3IFlbYEbPX_E5RO_o5XWUiucqQy-Gm1XfbUoyBUArMj/s400/barbican1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677348308331495922" /></a>Roger O Thornhillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14494843986294936586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2937356713099145904.post-78228660402567088362011-10-28T06:46:00.000-07:002011-10-28T06:47:29.912-07:00Vive Le Tour!It's not the right time of year, but it's never a bad time to watch this. A joyful little video about the 1962 Tour de France.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/21306164?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="400" height="292" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen allowFullScreen></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/21306164">Vive le tour!</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user3243362">Bear Thunder</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>Roger O Thornhillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14494843986294936586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2937356713099145904.post-20069642453684344672011-10-11T23:28:00.000-07:002011-10-12T00:44:08.731-07:00Citizen SmithIn a moment of boredom the other day, I noticed that David Cameron's government have made some changes to the <a href="http://lifeintheuktest.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/">UK 'Citizenship Test'</a>. I won't get into the "<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4191613.stm">are we subjects or citizens</a>" debate, but I do think this is a ridiculous idea.<br /><br />The test is called "Life in the UK", and is a requirement for any new applicant for British nationality. So, you would think it would ask questions about everyday life in the UK, wouldn't you. But no. (Incidentally, British people of a more Celtic persuasion may have noticed that the test appears to apply to just one of the UK's four nations.)<br /><br />I tried answering some of the questions <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/blog/quiz/2011/oct/11/uk-citizenship-test-quiz">here</a> just for a laugh. I should declare at this stage that I was born in Hampshire, hold a British passport, and tend not to feel comfortable with bodily contact of any kind. In other words, I'm quintessentially British. Furthermore I have lived in the UK for all of my adult life, so I figured I'd be pretty good at this test. Er, no.<br /><br />In fact I scored 18 out of a possible 24. Actually that's a pass - which is nice, as it presumably means I get to stay here for a while longer. But I couldn't help noticing that other people - British people, as well as foreign nationals who have lived here for some time - struggled with the test. These are intelligent people who are comfortable dealing with everyday matters in British life, so you would think that a test called "Life in the UK" would be a doddle. Again, no. An admittedly unscientific self-selecting sample of around 20 people all failed. Every single one of them.<br /><br />So, I could only conclude there is something wrong with the test. Nobody needs to know when the first Census took place, or who the Queen is allowed to marry - or, indeed why the Queen is the Queen at all. What the test really needs is questions that do relate to life in the UK as we live it. Here are my suggestions, which Cameron is free to use. I won't even charge him.<br /><br />If you can pass this test by scoring 50% or more, you should be entitled to claim a British passport. If you fail, you should have to give your passport back, and move <a href="http://www.cityofwasilla.com/">somewhere more appropriate</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Question 1</span><br />Ownership of which item can protect you from deportation?<br />(a) A gun<br />(b) A copy of the Daily Mail<br />(c) <a href="http://ukhumanrightsblog.com/2011/10/04/cat-had-nothing-to-do-with-failure-to-deport-man/">A cat</a><br />(d) <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/jul/12/julian-assange-extradition-live-coverage">A whistleblowing website</a><br />(e) <a href="http://freemovement.wordpress.com/2011/03/16/buy-your-way-in/">A huge pile of cash</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Question 2</span><br />If you are caught exceeding the speed limit, what should you do?<br />(a) Admit liability and pay a fine<br />(b) Slow down<br />(c) Attempt to bribe the police officer<br />(d) <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-13409701">Claim your wife was driving</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Question 3</span><br />In a General Election, who controls the vote count and announces the winner?<br />(a) The Returning Officer<br />(b) Simon Cowell<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Question 4</span><br />If a train leaves London at 0945 bound for Nottingham, what excuses will be offered for it being four hours late? <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Question 5</span><br />Complete the following well-known phrase: "I see a little silhouetto of a man..."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Question 6</span><br />True or False: The Prime Minister is selected from the ranks of minor <a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article745903.ece">royalty</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Question 7</span><br />Healthcare in the UK is...<br />(a) Free <br />(b) Only available to those with expensive health insurance<br />The answer is (a), unless you are taking the test after 31 December 2013, in which case the answer is (b).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Question 8</span><br />Explain the rules of "Mornington Crescent" in 50 words or less.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Question 9</span><br />The correct response to "how are you?" is<br />(a) Very well thank you<br />(b) I'm fine, how are you<br />(c) Mustn't grumble<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Question 10</span><br />Which is the odd one out?<br />(a) Short Leg<br />(b) Silly Point<br />(c) Deep Cover<br />(d) Wet Blanket<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Question 11</span><br />Jammy Dodgers are:<br />(a) a professional baseball team<br />(b) one of your five a day<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Question 12</span><br />Complete the following sentence: "I'm not racist, but..."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Question 13</span><br />Someone pushes into a queue ahead of you. Do you:<br />(a) Push back in ahead of them<br />(b) Protest loudly<br />(c) Do nothing<br />(d) Mutter quietly about the lack of morals in modern society<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Question 14</span><br />Fill in the blank: "_______ Britain"<br />(a) Great<br />(b) Rip-Off<br />(c) Broken<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Question 15</span><br />Explain the correct use of apostrophe's.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Question 16</span><br />Chips and _______<br />(a) gravy<br />(b) curry sauce<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Question 17</span><br />_______ and chips<br />(a) Fish<br />(b) Whizzer<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Question 18</span><br />What generally accompanies the phrase "you couldn't make it up?"<br />(a) A devastating exposé of the decline of Britain<br />(b) Shocking facts about the exploitation of hard-working white British families<br />(c) Something that is completely made up<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Question 19</span><br />What is the correct name for a Snickers bar?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Question 20</span><br />You are leaving a pub after a long session of binge-drinking. What do you lose?<br />(a) Your phone<br />(b) Your clothes<br />(c) Your lunch<br />(d) Your self-respect<br />(e) All of the above<br /><br /><br />Welcome to Britain! Please let us know if you have any suggestions for further questions to be added to the test.Roger O Thornhillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14494843986294936586noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2937356713099145904.post-8005255746916944052011-09-05T23:38:00.001-07:002011-09-06T02:59:23.353-07:00Not In My Back YardThere has been much discussion in recent days of the <a href="http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/draftframeworkconsultation">Government’s plan to ‘reform’ the planning system</a>. <br /><br />Broadly speaking, on one side we have the ever-fragrant Gideon Osborne and his svelte chum Eric Pickles, <a href="http://news.sky.com/home/politics/article/16062862">claiming that planning ‘reforms’ will boost growth</a>. On the other side, we have everyone else – except, of course, the private companies that will significantly benefit from these ‘reforms’.<br /><br />At this point I’m going to stop using their word – ‘reform’ – and switch to a more accurate word – ‘destruction’. Having <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/feb/16/forest-selloff-conservative-policy">failed to sell off the forests</a> earlier this year, it seems the Tories are intent on selling off the rest of the country – whatever the long-term cost to this (soon to be formerly) green and pleasant land.<br /><br />It’s not just sandal-wearing lefties, and NIMBY types opposing these plans. It’s mainstream establishment organisations like <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/aug/30/planning-reform-undemocratic-green-groups">the National Trust and the RSPB</a>. But the privatisation train rolls on. Nothing is not for sale. Not the NHS, not the prisons, not the schools, and not even the very hills and fields around us. Everything, and everyone, must subordinate their own interests to those of the corporations and the wealthy. It is “key” to economic recovery, claims Osborne – the man who has so far killed what little economic growth he inherited – to enable companies to build wherever they like, without regard to the old system of checks and balances.<br /><br />As is often the case with Tory policies, particularly with this seat-of-the-pants Government, this plan doesn’t stand up to scrutiny. As Martin Harper, the conservation director of the RSPB <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/damian-carrington-blog/2011/jul/26/planning-policy-development-green-belt">points out</a>, “the [existing] planning system is intended to protect and represent the interests of the public in the face of complex decisions, and it will fail us all if one factor – economic growth – is set higher than any other.” Not least because, like slashing public spending down to two shillings and sixpence, <a href="http://www.monbiot.com/2011/09/05/terra-nullius/">it doesn’t work</a>.<br /><br />The Government claims, naturally – and correctly – that there is a severe housing shortage in the UK. But let’s not be fooled by this. There is no sudden concern on the part of the Conservative Party to help those who can’t get on the housing ladder, or those who can’t get housing at all. They’re not Tory voters, and they’re not represented by Tory policies. Never have been, never will be. You may think I’m being cynical and partisan here. I almost certainly am. But given that the Government plans to <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/oct/20/biggest-shakeup-in-social-housing">reduce the budget for building affordable homes by 60%</a>, further exacerbating the housing shortage and driving the vulnerable into the clutches of predatory profiteering private landlords, and that the inevitable increase in rents that will ensue will have to be paid for out of taxpayer funds, it’s clear that this new policy is not driven by the shortage in housing but by the shortage in profits of those development companies who doubtless help fill the Party coffers.<br /><br />All semblance of control and balance will be gone. It’s now a case of <a href="http://propertydrum.briefyourmarket.com/Articles/Conveyancing-legal-services/Localism-Build-what-you-like-where-you-like-when-you-like-.aspx">build what you like, where you like</a>. Except, that is, if you’re an <a href="http://www.leftfootforward.org/2011/09/dale-farm-essex-irish-travellers-to-be-evicted/">undesirable</a>.<br /><br />In the same week as the Government’s destruction of the planning law was rolled out, it was finally confirmed in the High Court that around 400 Irish Travellers living at <a href="http://dalefarm.wordpress.com/">Dale Farm</a> in Essex would face eviction. These people have lived on this land for ten years. (Note that I don’t say they “lived illegally”, as much of the media does, as if their very existence contravened legislation.) They own it – because, when the last Tory Government removed the obligation for councils to provide pitches for Gypsies and Travellers in 1994, they were encouraged to buy land and settle on it. So they did. They bought an old scrap yard, filthy and polluted, and moved their homes there - next door to an existing Traveller settlement that already had planning permission. Technically, it’s ‘green belt’ land, but the only green on that land is oxidised copper. We’re not talking rolling hills and fields here. It was a dump. Now it’s the only home they have left. Or it was – until they were evicted for not having planning permission. If only they had been a massive corporation, instead of 80-odd families struggling to survive, and protect what remains of their culture.<br /><br />The Travellers that now face eviction in the next two weeks are already starting to make homelessness applications – and, of course, the council are obliged by law to assist the elderly, infirm and very young. Which basically means all of them. Except, of course, the Government has already slashed spending on housing. So they’ve nowhere to go. No roadside. No legal pitches. Not even their own land. <br /><br />One of the Government’s own Peers says <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-14667794">the eviction is ‘stupid’</a>. Even <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-14763905">the UN is wading in</a>. Those who continue to support the eviction claim, rather too often and too loudly for my liking, that <a href="http://www.jewify.org/">it’s not about them being Travellers, it’s just about upholding the planning law</a>. The same planning law that faces total destruction in the entire United Kingdom except this one small corner of Essex. This is disingenuous rubbish. It’s incredible to find that there are <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/agriffithsmp/status/109032812702732288">people across the country who care so much about upholding planning law hundreds of miles away</a>, yet don’t seem to have any concerns about any other development in the entire country. Because the other developments are for profit-making companies, instead of a few families who aren’t from their culture. This isn’t enforcement, <a href="http://thoughcowardsflinch.com/2011/08/27/lord-avebury-and-the-traveller-community-of-dale-farm/">it’s a vendetta</a>.<br /><br />I have been to Dale Farm, and spoken to the families there. Like any other community, the vast majority of them just want to live their lives peacefully and within the law. Over the past ten years they have tried again and again to obtain permission for developing their small square of concrete and scrap metal, and time and time again they have been refused. This is by no means unusual. <a href="http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/cultural-capital/2011/03/gypsy-orchestra-community">In England over 90% of planning applications by Gypsies and Travellers are turned down, compared to only 20% of planning applications from the general population</a>.<br /><br />Yet the eviction continues, despite the clear and obvious inequities involved. In 2006, the then Labour Government <a href="http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/circulargypsytraveller.pdf">published a document</a> on planning for Gypsy and Traveller sites. Notable extracts from this document include:<br /><br /><blockquote>In some cases, perhaps involving previously developed (brownfield), untidy or derelict land, the establishment of a well-planned or soft-landscaped gypsy and traveller site can be seen as positively enhancing the environment and increasing openness.</blockquote><br /><br />And:<br /><br /><blockquote>Members of the gypsy and traveller communities have the same rights and responsibilities within the planning system as members of other communities. Planning permission is normally required for any changes of use of land. As with developments submitted by anyone the only times permission would not be required are;<br />i) if the land has already been granted planning permission for a particular type of land use; or,<br />ii) the use of the land has been established over a period of time without valid planning enforcement action having been taken by the local authority. This time period is 4 years for building or other similar physical works which do not represent a change of land use, or 10 years where the development has represented a change of land use.</blockquote><br /><br />It seems to me that under these criteria, Dale Farm is well within the bounds of acceptability. George Osborne claims that "sticking with the old, failed planning system puts at risk young people's future prosperity and quality of life". It’s a crying shame that the prosperity and quality of life that so concerns him does not extend to all of the population.Roger O Thornhillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14494843986294936586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2937356713099145904.post-23879905046398865862011-08-25T23:39:00.000-07:002011-08-25T23:42:52.126-07:00Reinventing The WheelI've been away for a little while. No time to post on Libya, phone-hacking or looting. But I did see this...
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<br />I used to cycle a bit. But not like that. Hats off to Danny.Roger O Thornhillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14494843986294936586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2937356713099145904.post-13135744337573053362011-05-10T23:49:00.000-07:002011-05-11T01:53:51.273-07:00Election 2015 - The Campaign Starts HereI love this idea. The more I think about, the more I love this idea. Allow me to share it with you.<br /><br />OK, so it's not actually a fully formed idea, as such. More of a notion, really. Or a suggestion. But it's out there now, and it can't be unthought.<br /><br />During some idle chat on Twitter -- arguably that's a tautology, but we'll move on -- a chap called <a href="http://www.twitter.com/#!/davverplatt">David Platt</a>* suggested arranging candidates for all 650 constituencies** in the next UK General Election.<br /><br /><blockquote>* No, not <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Platt_%28footballer%29">that David Platt</a>. Or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Platt_%28Coronation_Street%29">that one</a>. Another one.<br /><br />** Or however many are left after Cameron has finished his <a href="http://www.epolitix.com/latestnews/article-detail/newsarticle/bill-briefing-parliamentary-voting-system-and-constituencies-bill/">gerrymandering</a>.</blockquote><br /><br />I like this idea. (I think I mentioned that already.) Many people in Britain are disillusioned about politics these days; perhaps more than ever before. The Liberal Democrats appear to be facing extinction at the next election, and Labour and the Conservatives seem just as out-of-touch as ever. So why not start our own party? (And like all good parties, this one's going to have a DJ.)<br /><br />Before we get into the details of how to stand for Parliament, though, we need to cover the basics. Stuff like what the new party will be called. And, um, what it stands for. You see, we're already getting into a different kind of politics here, by actually suggesting we have policies. As far as I can recall, the two parties that 'won' the 2010 election hardly had any policies before the election - and those they did have were swiftly abandoned.<br /><br />Today marks exactly one year since the Coalition Government took control of Britain, and that leaves us more or less four years to sort out how we take it back. It starts here, and it starts now.<br /><br />To give us a headstart, I have shamelessly copied some policy ideas from Mark Thomas, who had <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_People%27s_Manifesto">a similar idea</a> back in 2009. Perhaps some of these can be an inspiration for us to develop our own policies. Or, if we prefer, we can just steal the best policies off other people. It worked for New Labour, so why not for us?<br /><br />Here are a few of my favourites.<br /><br /><blockquote>All politicians should be forced to wear the names and logos of the companies that sponsor them or with whom they have financial links.<br /><br />Anyone who opposes immigration into this country should be barred from travelling abroad.<br /><br />To randomly arm OAPs with guns.<br /><br />Require the Daily Mail to print the following on every front page: "This is a fictional representation of the news. Any resemblance to real life is purely coincidental."<br /><br />Make clothes out of cheese.<br /><br />Anyone found guilty of homophobic hate crime has to serve their sentence in drag.<br /><br />There should be separate lanes for pedestrians based on the speeds they walk at. Ranging from a fast lane for people who know where they are going to a hard shoulder for window shoppers.<br /><br />Anyone buying a second home in Somerset has to buy a house of equal value for someone who actually lives in Somerset. This house is to be built on a golf course.</blockquote><br /><br />OK, so we could have some sensible policies - you know, like a Tobin Tax, or scrapping Trident, or maybe rebuilding the nation's stock of council housing. But where's the fun in that? Let's be honest: there are few if any votes in proposing a tweak in business rates, but I'd wager there are plenty of votes to be won by any party proposing on-the-spot fines for anyone found in possession of a copy of the Daily Express.<br /><br />But this isn't about me. I don't want to be Prime Minister. This is about YOU, people. The Great British Public. Here is our chance to really take control. Now I'm giving you the opportunity to get out there and change our nation for the better. All we need from you is ideas. And maybe five hundred quid for your election deposit.Roger O Thornhillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14494843986294936586noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2937356713099145904.post-24273675060695183792011-05-04T03:26:00.000-07:002011-05-04T03:45:44.016-07:00Unlawful KillingOn 1 April 2009, newspaper seller <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/g20-police-assault-ian-tomlinson">Ian Tomlinson</a> finished his shift and prepared to walk home. At the same time in Central London there was a demonstration going on, which had nothing to do with Tomlinson.<br /><br />Ian never made it home. He died, without friends or family by his side, on the pavement on Cornhill. Just minutes before, he had been subjected to a vicious and unprovoked attack.... by the police.<br /><br />If a passer by had not filmed this moment, the truth would probably never have been exposed, and yet another death at the hands of the police would have passed without any consequences for the guilty party.<br /><br /><iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/HECMVdl-9SQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Despite obstruction from the police throughout this process, the truth is now out there for all to see. An innocent man was <a href="http://www.tomlinsoninquest.org.uk/tomlinson/">unlawfully killed</a> by the very people who were supposed to protect him.<br /><br />We all now know that PC Simon Harwood is a thug and a <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/apr/06/ian-tomlinson-inquest-g20-officer">liar</a>. Tomlinson wasn't the first person he assaulted that day, and it seems certain that Harwood, and many others in the police Territorial Support Group, have got away with many other similar occasions simply because their victims didn't die, and their crimes were not filmed.<br /><br />Now is the chance for the police, and the Crown Prosecution Service, to prove that things have changed since <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/apr/27/blair-peach-killed-police-met-report">Blair Peach</a>. Harwood is not the only guilty party in this episode, but if - even after the findings of the inquest into Tomlinson's death - he does not face trial for manslaughter, then any last remaining shred of trust between the public, and the police who serve them, is lost.Roger O Thornhillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14494843986294936586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2937356713099145904.post-67811854384464945102011-05-03T00:45:00.000-07:002011-05-04T04:14:48.656-07:00Pimp My Vote!On 5 May 2011, the nation votes once again in local elections - but this time there's a twist. For the first time ever (as far as I know), we are also being offered a chance to change the system which we use to elect our MPs. Surprisingly, this has been a more difficult choice for me than I had expected - quite possibly because both competing campaigns are fronted by arguably the two most unpopular politicians in the country.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaqtRGlQ7FDsqnKVW7LqwieRkqxpZDLeTRljXxkrxE8ir7TW945e6RxWIZ1C-QVXfzTuReT-bWNHe6VImd7nDInPV2JHjGILiLUNKS-FevYYbDkm83UuuMq4KBQ56gvt8UB0lk7GTTB8SM/s1600/cameron-clegg-100-days.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 313px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaqtRGlQ7FDsqnKVW7LqwieRkqxpZDLeTRljXxkrxE8ir7TW945e6RxWIZ1C-QVXfzTuReT-bWNHe6VImd7nDInPV2JHjGILiLUNKS-FevYYbDkm83UuuMq4KBQ56gvt8UB0lk7GTTB8SM/s400/cameron-clegg-100-days.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602399379121759138" /></a><br /><br />For those of you who don't live in the UK, or have been hiding in Abbottabad for the past year or so, the referendum question is as follows:<br /><br /><blockquote><span style="font-weight:bold;">At present, the UK uses the "first past the post" system to elect MPs to the House of Commons. Should the "alternative vote" system be used instead?</span></blockquote><br />So, let's have a look at the two alternatives on offer.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">First Past The Post ("FPTP")</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">The current system. You're given a list of candidates, you mark X against your preferred candidate, and the one with the most votes wins.<br /><br />Under the UK's existing multi-party system, this often means a candidate is elected despite more people voting for other candidates than for the winner.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Alternative Vote ("AV")</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">The proposed new system. You're given a list of candidates, and you mark 1 2 3 etc in order of preference. (Or, just mark X against one candidate as with FPTP.) If no candidate has an outright majority of first choices, the least popular candidate is eliminated and their votes are redistributed to the other candidates in accordance with the second preferences expressed, and so on until one candidate has a majority.<br /><br />This system can potentially result in the candidate who gains the most first-preference votes losing the final election due to redistributions of second and third choice votes. A recent examples of this is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labour_Party_%28UK%29_leadership_election,_2010">the election of Ed Miliband as leader of the Labour party</a>.</span><br /><br /><br /><br />OK. So far, so straightforward. But this doesn't help me much. I have lived in a variety of constituences in the past, from marginals to safe seats, but my current constituency is generally considered to be a very safe seat for the Conservatives. Of course there are a number of similar seats around the country, where one party (not always the Tories) are effectively elected before a vote is cast. What this often means is that one party can gain a majority of seats in Parliament while polling less than 40% of the nation's vote - in fact this happens in just about every election in my adult lifetime, except the last one. <br /><br />Take 2001 for example. Under Tony Blair, <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/vote2001/results_constituencies/default.stm">Labour polled 40.7% of the votes, but won 62.6% of seats in Parliament</a>. Surely, even for a die-hard Labour supporter, this can't be right. 60% of the country doesn't want you, but you've still got a strong working majority. Much the same could be said in Canada today, where <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canadavotes2011/">the Conservatives won a crushing majority with a minority of the votes cast</a>.<br /><br />The problem with the FPTP system is that the parties tend to concentrate on the swing voters in the marginal seats, as a tiny change in voting share can make a huge change in representation in Parliament. Meanwhile, voters in the majority of constituencies where the result is pretty much obvious, are effectively ignored. This is the position I face in my constituency - basically, whoever I vote for (even if it's the Conservative candidate), my vote is wasted. FPTP doesn't really work if there are more than two parties - it's fine for Americans, but not for us.<br /><br />So it seems to me that a change is required, but is AV the right one? I need to look at the arguments put forward by both sides, to see if that can help me decide whether AV would be a better, fairer and more representative system or not. If not, then should I vote to retain FPTP?<br /><br />The following summaries of the arguments are <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/apr/07/av-referendum-alternative-vote">as presented by The Guardian newspaper</a>. I realise that paper doubtless has an editorial slant one way or the other, but the following summary at least looks to be factual and balanced. Whether their op-ed pieces are, is another argument.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The Yes campaign</span><br /><br />The Yes campaign is supported by the Liberal Democrats and Greens, as well as the Scottish and Welsh nationalist parties, and some Republican parties in Northern Ireland. The Labour party are split both ways.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKb6qXtZ5YV1RP9tSbNmmPltnfIYwXOflqmJyn-OGANE79DYyUEbBTXR0xEaFfg6VncTK1d1OuwRZIG9bicls3zM4S9FkMq6M115tKEhL-24foEYYTEEFFBvA-yRk7UrMAcAH0HmSPxulB/s1600/20-APR-11-yes_vote.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 283px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKb6qXtZ5YV1RP9tSbNmmPltnfIYwXOflqmJyn-OGANE79DYyUEbBTXR0xEaFfg6VncTK1d1OuwRZIG9bicls3zM4S9FkMq6M115tKEhL-24foEYYTEEFFBvA-yRk7UrMAcAH0HmSPxulB/s400/20-APR-11-yes_vote.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602411414398993554" /></a><br /><br />Supporters of a switch to AV say:<br /><br />• The aim of securing more than 50% of the local vote would ensure MPs work harder to earn and keep voter support. Two-thirds of MPs at the last election were elected on less than a 50% share of the vote.<br /><br />• It would end the "jobs for life" culture in safe constituency seats (campaigners point to MPs in safe seats who were embroiled in the expenses scandal that hit the previous parliament).<br /><br />• It would encourage more people to vote, because voters would feel that their say matters more. Campaigners say many are deterred from participating because under first past the post because they feel their vote is wasted.<br /><br />• AV is moving with the times: two-party dominance has made way for a more pluralist system (notably in devolved Scotland and Wales).<br /><br />• It eliminates the need for tactical voting. Electors can vote for their first-choice candidate without fear of wasting their vote.<br /><br />• A switch to AV would not mean changing the current MP-constituency link.<br /><br />• Supporters say the system would make it more difficult for extremist parties to win an election, because they would be unlikely to secure many second or third preference votes.<br /><br />• It encourages candidates to chase second and third preferences, which lessens the attractions of negative campaigning (one doesn't want to alienate the supporters of another candidate whose second preferences one wants) and rewards broad church policies.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The No campaign</span><br /><br />The No campaign is supported by the Conservatives, as well as the BNP, and some Loyalist parties in Northern Ireland. The Labour party are split both ways.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRRsKl7SftgyVDtuSssskOLOP8HGLzr1UAe6QA7QdItmi7leU5_PYOFO-oN0a8ZRaJibJqwhDn9FQ7mFBlKJzJd-jUE1GaiZ1QJui3-dMSPGwXciC1Tz8In_7kzGbFE0rsx-tZC5fiVOq/s1600/no2av.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 317px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRRsKl7SftgyVDtuSssskOLOP8HGLzr1UAe6QA7QdItmi7leU5_PYOFO-oN0a8ZRaJibJqwhDn9FQ7mFBlKJzJd-jUE1GaiZ1QJui3-dMSPGwXciC1Tz8In_7kzGbFE0rsx-tZC5fiVOq/s400/no2av.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602411544481987682" /></a><br /><br />Those against AV argue:<br /><br />• First past the post is the fairest system because it is based on the principle of one person, one vote. AV is a "losers' charter" where the candidate who comes second or third in first preferences can actually be elected.<br /><br />• Some votes will count more than others: If a voter gives their first preference vote to a mainstream party, their other preferences may not be counted. But if they vote for a fringe party candidate who gets knocked out, their other preferences will count.<br /><br />• AV is a "politicians' fix" because, instead of the voters choosing the government, it would lead to more hung parliaments and backroom coalition deals.<br /><br />Critics counter that the current coalition was a result of first past the post and that AV is unlikely to lead to more coalitions because it is not PR.<br /><br />• AV makes decisive electoral outcomes less likely (critics again point to the 2010 election, which led to an inconclusive win for the Conservatives under first past the post).<br /><br />• Switching to a new voting system would cost £250m.<br /><br />• It takes longer to count.<br /><br />• AV will do little to improve under-represented groups, such as the Greens, in parliament.<br /><br /><br /><br />Both very persuasive in their own way, I'm sure. But this doesn't really help me, as neither is entirely satisfactory. How can I decide?<br /><br />Some people will vote along party lines - so natural Tories will probably vote No, regardless of their views. This might be a tough call for Labour supporters however, and either way it is again no help for me. I am not allied to any one party over another, and don't see why my views should be dictated by them even if I was. Similarly, some will vote according to their opinions of the two chaps pictured above, but this doesn't really work either, as the system will outlive either of their political careers - at least one of which looks to be in its final stages already.<br /><br />So, I turn to the campaigns. What are the Yes and No camps saying to persuade us? Let's have a look.<br /><br />The Yes campaign appear to be focusing on the general perception that the current political system is unrepresentative, and taking advantage of the fact that politicians are even less popular than normal these days.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZXnMOOONiAyAU9TosRILs2GUWm943_aEESt4UBPkQhRGeP9yc5zT6lupghNIX9fUQD8YvGkwjc2vvpyTZqRj5eGejjgSFOiFPI5CZQb1GTZpHgKjvjFxFFwrH5pXqnQAswBCbnyXu2PeY/s1600/2_fullsize.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 207px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZXnMOOONiAyAU9TosRILs2GUWm943_aEESt4UBPkQhRGeP9yc5zT6lupghNIX9fUQD8YvGkwjc2vvpyTZqRj5eGejjgSFOiFPI5CZQb1GTZpHgKjvjFxFFwrH5pXqnQAswBCbnyXu2PeY/s400/2_fullsize.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602429976171938178" /></a><br /><br />The No campaign appear to be focusing on the current backlash against LibDem leader Nick Clegg, who is fronting the Yes campaign.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgarIWahe0E_fuMHK5jB9vXeRX2EclQeDsOmb747iK5TC0m5hlb-d0uCI9jaNMOBZNtOb5tr0PdZNagfdB51xJmH97ZnkGEWG486JH0SjSlNWa8oxukwHofC7nUDSDEvsz0oYf-pG7ZWJcv/s1600/no-to-clegg-no-to-av-leaflet.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 282px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgarIWahe0E_fuMHK5jB9vXeRX2EclQeDsOmb747iK5TC0m5hlb-d0uCI9jaNMOBZNtOb5tr0PdZNagfdB51xJmH97ZnkGEWG486JH0SjSlNWa8oxukwHofC7nUDSDEvsz0oYf-pG7ZWJcv/s400/no-to-clegg-no-to-av-leaflet.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602430601688889170" /></a><br /><br />I'm not impressed by negative campaigning. And I've already pointed out that I won't vote based on politicians I dislike. This is about an electoral system, not personalities. So I dig a little deeper, and go to the respective campaigns' websites for more.<br /><br /><br />The Yes campaign's website links to a brochure released by the Electoral Reform Society: "<a href="http://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/downloads/Why%20AV%20web.pdf">Why AV?</a>" It's only three pages long, including the title page.<br /><br />Of the six reasons they give to vote Yes, one appeals in particular - the fact that candidates now need to appeal to more voters, in order to get their second and third choices, if they want to get to the 50% mark. This can only be a good thing. Instead of polling 34% and relying on a split opposition, candidates must now appeal to as many voters as possible.<br /><br />On the other hand, their sixth reason (clearly they were struggling at this stage) is specious at best. "When parties need to win the goodwill of as many voters as possible, they lack the incentive to create imaginary differences or to focus on negative campaigning." Rubbish. No electoral system on earth will discourage negative campaigning, not least because it works.<br /><br />The No campaign's website lists <a href="http://www.no2av.org/why-vote-no/">just three reasons</a>. The first is that "AV is costly", and claims that it will cost £250 million to transition. A very quick bit of fact-checking proves this to be false, or at the very least misleading. The amount quoted includes the cost of the referendum - which will be the same whoever wins - and also assumes voting machines will be required. This is not the case in any country that currently uses AV.<br /><br />The No campaign's second reason is that "AV is complex and unfair". I doubt anyone who can list a short number of choices in order of preference would consider AV to be "complex", but is it "unfair"? Their only stated support for this claim is that only three countries use AV. Popularity doesn't mean fairness though, so this looks to be an empty claim.<br /><br />Finally, the No campaign claim that AV will lead to more hung parliaments - despite the current hung parliament being achieved under FPTP. Again, a quick look at Australia's election results proves this not to be the case.<br /><br />As Channel 4 News' excellent <a href="http://blogs.channel4.com/factcheck/factcheck-av-round-up-the-truth-behind-the-claims/6364">FactCheck blog</a> shows, both sides are <a href="http://www.psa.ac.uk/PSAPubs/TheAlternativeVoteBriefingPaper.pdf">making more false claims than accurate ones</a>. So I can't even believe them.<br /><br />What if the Australians (and Fijians and Papuans) are all fools? What if, as Baroness Warsi <a href="http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/3498971/Baroness-Warsi-Why-a-vote-for-AV-is-a-vote-for-the-BNP.html">claims</a>, the extremists will get in under AV? What should I do? Who can I believe? One last chance to make my mind up... let's have another look at those summary points the Guardian helpfully provided.<br /><br /><br />Supporters of a switch to AV say:<br /><blockquote><br />• The aim of securing more than 50% of the local vote would ensure MPs work harder to earn and keep voter support. Two-thirds of MPs at the last election were elected on less than a 50% share of the vote.</blockquote><br />Sounds good to me, but what if someone gets 49% and isn't elected? The chances of that happening are small, but it could happen.<br /><br /><blockquote>• It would end the "jobs for life" culture in safe constituency seats (campaigners point to MPs in safe seats who were embroiled in the expenses scandal that hit the previous parliament).<br /></blockquote><br />I doubt this. It wasn't large majorities that caused the expenses scandal, it was the laissez-faire attitude to expenses fraud. Most of the worst offenders were long-serving MPs, but many with large majorities were honest.<br /><br /><blockquote>• It would encourage more people to vote, because voters would feel that their say matters more. Campaigners say many are deterred from participating because under first past the post because they feel their vote is wasted.<br /></blockquote><br />Impossible to prove. In my opinion, the difference in turnout would be minimal.<br /><br /><blockquote>• AV is moving with the times: two-party dominance has made way for a more pluralist system (notably in devolved Scotland and Wales).<br /></blockquote><br />True, the devolved nations have moved to AV. But they tend to end up with hung parliaments, just as the No campaign warn. Of course, this may not necessarily be a bad thing...<br /><br /><blockquote>• It eliminates the need for tactical voting. Electors can vote for their first-choice candidate without fear of wasting their vote.<br /></blockquote><br />True, and a good one. Many times I've voted on the basis of "who is most likely to beat X?" rather than "whose policies are best?" Anything that moves from this to a more positively-inspired vote must be good, and it would hopefully end the situation where (for example) 65% of a constituency hate Labour, but their votes are split between other parties and Labour still get in.<br /><br /><blockquote>• A switch to AV would not mean changing the current MP-constituency link.<br /></blockquote><br />True. So it's the same as FPTP in this aspect.<br /><br /><blockquote>• Supporters say the system would make it more difficult for extremist parties to win an election, because they would be unlikely to secure many second or third preference votes.<br /></blockquote><br />This goes against what Baroness Warsi said. But it's telling to see that the BNP support the No campaign.<br /><br /><blockquote>• It encourages candidates to chase second and third preferences, which lessens the attractions of negative campaigning (one doesn't want to alienate the supporters of another candidate whose second preferences one wants) and rewards broad church policies.</blockquote><br />For me, the best reason so far. I'm fed up with my seat being so safe that not one party - not even the winning party - bothers trying to canvass my vote.<br /><br /><br />Those against AV argue:<br /><br /><blockquote>• First past the post is the fairest system because it is based on the principle of one person, one vote. AV is a "losers' charter" where the candidate who comes second or third in first preferences can actually be elected.<br /></blockquote><br />Hm. Doesn't sound good, does it. These second preferences can be pesky. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservative_Party_%28UK%29_leadership_election,_2005">Here</a>'s an example of what happens, albeit not under AV but under a similar system. Scary eh.<br /><br /><blockquote>• Some votes will count more than others: If a voter gives their first preference vote to a mainstream party, their other preferences may not be counted. But if they vote for a fringe party candidate who gets knocked out, their other preferences will count.</blockquote><br />Not true. Everyone gets one vote, and one only. Say you go to the pub and ask for Guinness, but the Guinness is off. You opt for lager instead. You still only get one drink. Yes, if you vote for a 'fringe' party your second or third preference is likely to count more than your first, but surely this is a good thing. It allows smaller interest parties a chance to get a vote, even if they don't win the election. And yes, this can include extremists, but this is a democracy.<br /><br /><blockquote>• AV is a "politicians' fix" because, instead of the voters choosing the government, it would lead to more hung parliaments and backroom coalition deals.<br /></blockquote><br />Coming from a coalition government, this is an odd argument. The last Australian hung parliament was in 1940 (when the UK also had a coalition). Since then, only one of 27 elections has resulted in a hung parliament - compared to 3 out of 28 in the UK under FPTP. Bad argument there, I think.<br /><br /><blockquote>• AV makes decisive electoral outcomes less likely (critics again point to the 2010 election, which led to an inconclusive win for the Conservatives under first past the post).<br /></blockquote><br />See above. Not true.<br /><br /><blockquote>• Switching to a new voting system would cost £250m.</blockquote><br /><a href="http://blogs.channel4.com/factcheck/factcheck-the-av-campaign-gets-dirty/5789">Disproved.</a> Scaremongering is most unedifying.<br /><br /><blockquote>• It takes longer to count.</blockquote><br />If it's worth it, then surely a little wait isn't a problem? India takes weeks to count their votes. So what?<br /><br /><blockquote>• AV will do little to improve under-represented groups, such as the Greens, in parliament.<br /></blockquote><br />The Greens appear to disagree.<br /><br /><br /><br />So. Time to decide. In the end I need to combine all the methods of decision-making to reach my choice.<br /><br />Who do I dislike most? That's easy - the BNP.<br /><br />Who do I support? Nobody right now.<br /><br />Who has made the best argument? Neither, but Yes just shades it, mostly because the majority of No arguments are either irrelevant, or easily disproved.<br /><br />Anything else? Yes. I don't like children.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCSdoVgsMjc7LrNavK18xo5m10Rqty9pVjxM-eW9XD5nTPvkz0dzl1HfWd2_kSrhDxG2h0U-mtRcFYK9nntneLNijH8lmc7CE9v5z3eGAg2Vh4qqoA8nC_ucxips9GRNuZp4_qnw5WkZlk/s1600/no-to-av-baby-campaign-0051.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCSdoVgsMjc7LrNavK18xo5m10Rqty9pVjxM-eW9XD5nTPvkz0dzl1HfWd2_kSrhDxG2h0U-mtRcFYK9nntneLNijH8lmc7CE9v5z3eGAg2Vh4qqoA8nC_ucxips9GRNuZp4_qnw5WkZlk/s400/no-to-av-baby-campaign-0051.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602446639686038210" /></a><br /><br />That, in the end, is why I'm voting Yes. Because anyone who stoops that low doesn't deserve my vote. Or, perhaps, because I want to see babies die.Roger O Thornhillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14494843986294936586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2937356713099145904.post-22233397158537802152011-02-08T00:13:00.001-08:002011-02-08T01:53:57.266-08:00Fancy A New Job?After <a href="http://conformconsumeobey.blogspot.com/2009/05/wonders-of-democracy.html">all the fun I had with the BNP</a> some time back, I couldn't resist this one.<br /><br />The following job vacancy was recently advertised in The Guardian. Yes, the Guardian.<br /><br /><blockquote>Daily Mail<br /><br />•Britain’s most successful newspaper group is offering would-be reporters and writers an exciting and challenging yearlong training course, plus the chance to work at the Daily Mail and Mail Online<br /><br />•We are looking for bright, sharp, intelligent writers who believe they can be fast-tracked to the very top<br /><br />•You’ll be on the best journalism course in the business – and be paid a competitive salary while you train<br /><br />•Successful applicants will probably have completed post-graduate journalism training or had experience working in newspapers<br /><br />Apply by February 21, with your CV, 200 words on why you think you could be a Mail journalist, a 200-word news story and a selection of up to six cuttings and send to Sue Ryan, Trainee Reporters’ Scheme, Daily Mail, Northcliffe House, 2 Derry St, London W8 5TT. <br />Please send queries to sue.ryan@dailymail.co.uk</blockquote><br /><br />This has been covered brilliantly and hilariously by both <a href="http://enemiesofreason.co.uk/2011/02/07/its-my-dream-job/">Enemies Of Reason</a> and <a href="http://www.butireaditinthepaper.co.uk/2011/02/07/would-you-like-to-work-for-the-daily-mail/">Angry Mob</a>, both of which are well worth a read. No doubt many others have also been inspired to join in. Although I'm sure that most, or even all, of them are better writers than I could ever hope to be, I shall still submit an application. Not least because being a good writer appears to be a major obstacle to getting a job with the Daily Fail. Yes, I think I've got a good chance with this one.<br /><br />So here's my application letter which I have sent to Sue Ryan.<br /><br /><blockquote><br />Dear Sue<br /><br />While trawling through the sordid socialist rag that shall not be named, a beacon of truth and virtue shone out at me from the Job Vacancy pages that I could not resist. I have long dreamed of being a writer - not one of those poncy lefty fools like Slavoj Žižek or Noam Chomsky, but a proper writer like Richard Littlejohn or Jan Moir. Now I see that the very thing I had been looking for is available to me via the good offices of the Mail group.<br /><br />Although I have no training or experience in journalism, I do know how to copy and paste, and I feel that this alone qualifies me to move swiftly into the middle ranks of Daily Mail reporters. I am perfectly capable of writing vindictive polemics based on nothing more than an overheard conversation on the bus, or even a hacked voicemail, and I have no qualms whatsoever about stitching people up in order to advance my career.<br /><br />Above all I feel I am qualified to write for the Daily Mail because I hate living in England, and have always dreamed of buggering off to sunnier climes, where I can observe the deterioration of a once-great nation from afar. This distance, as Littlejohn has proved, can be invaluable in giving me an objective viewpoint that is based entirely on prejudice and lack of research, rather than any pesky ideas like actually living here or talking to real people.<br /><br />Please please please PLEASE give me the job.<br /><br />Yours hurrahing for the Blackshirts,<br /><br />Doug<br /></blockquote><br /><br />I will let you know if I get a reply, but in the meantime please do make an application yourself. And if you do, I'd love you to share it with me on the comments below, either in full or by posting a link to your own blog. This is too good a chance to miss. Just think - the next paranoid scare story about Eastern European wheelie bin inspectors could be under YOUR byline.Roger O Thornhillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14494843986294936586noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2937356713099145904.post-25986428694965920432011-02-07T23:26:00.001-08:002011-02-08T00:11:48.957-08:00A Voice In The Crowd<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKYK7_d4Jdgj2FYcwYMVJOSErO-ivbIz4kMBPYNFK60axF6jhVdpqBFoVScpJJFda-z1e857FBv1oKN1a41YidYYD5YeOfMwxuF7p_-0yzAis3MzULujKeonLczi8pt8pWx75_GH4Zznka/s1600/Protesters-behind-barrica-010.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKYK7_d4Jdgj2FYcwYMVJOSErO-ivbIz4kMBPYNFK60axF6jhVdpqBFoVScpJJFda-z1e857FBv1oKN1a41YidYYD5YeOfMwxuF7p_-0yzAis3MzULujKeonLczi8pt8pWx75_GH4Zznka/s400/Protesters-behind-barrica-010.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571227718378403810" /></a><br /><br />Like most of the world, I have watched the Egyptian uprising unfold since 25 January. There is something beautiful yet terrifying about watching millions of people stand up and say - "ENOUGH". Beautiful in its power and potential, but terrifying in the prospect of how it could all so easily go wrong, as it did recently in Burma and Iran. <br /><br />Now the Egypt story has a more personal dimension. My wife has managed, after days of trying, to get in touch with a friend who lives in Cairo. Initially the messages weren't clear, but it appears that he was shot in the demonstrations on (we think) January 26th, and was wounded in the head. He spent several days in hospital, but as soon as he was discharged he went straight back to Tahrir Square.<br /><br />Since then, they have been communicating by Facebook and phone, and whatever method works best with the situation as it is on the ground in Egypt. And the messages we get back are truly inspiring.<br /><br />I have amended names and redacted contact details, but otherwise the following messages are unedited.<br /><br />February 2nd<br /><blockquote>Ok my dearest friend. Get me posted with ur news. And I will pray for u. ALLAH is JUST. ALLAH is merciful.</blockquote><br /><br /><blockquote>Ok my friend. Take ur time. I'm sorry I can't open the link. I'm getting access from my cell phone. Takecare my good friend. And plz try to eat. Salam</blockquote><br /><br />February 3rd <br /><blockquote>im @ home now..... @ last i can send u now freeely from my desktop. <br /><br />first of all i have to say that GOOD people appear in their support to others during obstacles. and u r 1 of those good people, ALLAH gave u that beautiful heart that beats with great sensation towards humanity. ALLAH loves that heart as well i swear to Him. <br /><br />i've been thru torture my friend, i was 1 of those protesters from the very beginning, from the 25th, i was there.... we've been attacked by Police, injured most of us and even killed few of us. days after a complete withdrawal of police from the Egyptian streets took place.... they made way for the terror and gangs, the latter attacked our homes and families, they were about to enter my flat where i live with my parents but i stopped it. they stole many stores attacked many people down the road and did alot of corruption to Egypt. and finally we've been attacked by those supporters to Mubarak, but actually they r not, they r like those gangs who were attacking people in the streets but now they r attacking the protesters.. they were paid for that i bet.....<br /><br />thats what happened very briefly, i couldn't explain it more coz mmy English is not supporting me as usual..... i am ok now my friend, i get better than before.<br /><br />here is my cell phone<br />+20XXXXXXXX<br />n my address<br />XXXXXXXXXXX<br /><br />so when r u 2 coming to visit me then? :P u have no more excuses, u now have the address...LOL <br /><br />salam my friend : ) don stop smiling plz, i missed ur face although i never saw it.</blockquote><br /><br /> <br /><blockquote>Believe it or not! Few days ago Gangs and prisoners were let out from their jails to attack the cities. People of Mubarak and the police left the gangs to do what they want . They even planned for it. They let them attack our streets and houses. But we stood against it right. And now the youth are the protectors not the police. Every area, the youth and good sons stand with huge sticks and kitchen knives in the streets waiting for those bastards. Just to protect our moms and dads. And yesterday, they sent those people on horses and camels AGAIN to attack the protesters. IF WE ARE ALL KILLED FOR ALLAH's sake TO FREE OUR SELVES FROM THIS DICTATORISM, WE DON'T CARE, AS LONG AS WE BELIEVE IN HUMAN RIGHTS AND HUMAN VALUE. May ALLAH make those souls of the people who were killed among us rest in peace. May ALLAH support us more to end this unfair battle. MAY ALLAH bless u people of the west who know what A HUMAN is to be free. May ALLAH bless us all and lead us to the right guidance and the right track. Amin.</blockquote><br /><br /><br />February 5th <br /><blockquote>i can't describe how happy u made me by that call.... ur support to me is always making me better......<br /><br />my head injury is not so deep, just a superficial trauma caused by a direct hit on my head. It was there of course, in my heart, in Tahrir square. Those supporters to Mubarak were armed with huge sticks, swords and bombs. They wanted to threaten us by their attacks to us but it didn't work..... we stood against them although 4 died of us. That was an unfair battle. we didn't have even a small swiss knife to save us.... but we did it...<br /><br />yesterday, i was at work..... i missed going o Tahrir square alot, as if i got addicted to stand for hours there... i missed the energy that we all share while we r there... i was on duty and i swear to God i cried when i saw them on TV standing peacefully, i wanted to take a permission and leave but coz i work at a hospital, but culdn't leave....... tat was tearing me appppppppppaaart. <br /><br />Yes sure, let anybody add me on facebook and on twitter ( although im new on twitter and still do not know alot of things about it but it is ok with me). Ur friends are most welcomed coz they come from ur side and u r very special to me so they r special too,<br /><br /><br />thanks millions</blockquote><br /><br /> <br /><blockquote>i will get some sleep now, and i will send u at night again : ) ALLAH bless u and ur family and those people having good heart like urs.<br /><br />ALLAH is Just.</blockquote><br /><br />February 6th <br /><blockquote>Hello from the middle of cairo, from Tahrir square. Yes. I'm back. Slept for some time, checked my family and came here all thru the obstacles of the ''avoid walking thru'' rules. They set that rule from 4pm till 8am next day. I'm here not with my friends this time but with my self. I don't feel strange, those faces were here and always stay here until we hear his resination news. ALLAH is Just. I've seenpeople in UK march today in the news. Infront of the American embassy :-) I said to my self ''those are the people of justice who do get our point from the first day''. Stones kept thrown against us from the buildings around the square on that night. 100's of people got injured deeply, to the extent that I consider my wound is nothing in comparison to theirs. ALLAH is Fair. Happy to know that u the English, the people of humanity see the image clearly and not biased and getting the hidden details easily, this is even much more promising to us, mmotivating as u said. Yes, the other side of the earth has a clear vision also :-) love u all for ALLAH's sake.</blockquote><br /><br /><br /><blockquote>If I have the money, i'd have travelled to u as soon as we finish it here. U r a friend that really deserves travelling to. I'm praying ALLAH to make me rich first to take better care of my parentrs, help Egypt's economy in recovery and travel to my faithful friends like u. ALLAH is so fair and he is looking to those who ask him in prayers if they are honest. Imagine ALLAH turns his face to u while u r asking him. He never turn away from those who aask him, if they have faith and enough honesty. His reply to ur asking doesn't have to be immediate, the reply might take years and years. Just don't forget when it comes true that someday u asked for that, and don't forget to thank Him when u achieved what u asked. May ALLAH grant us honesty, faithfullness and patience.</blockquote><br /><br />February 7th <br /><blockquote>I followed the reporter. And I will get u updated my friend. My pleasure to hear that the people of the United kingdom are so attached to our issue. This is so noble, but i'm not astonished because I know that the English are very understanding to such critical topics before they judge. <br />Send him please my best regards and great appreciation from the people of the square. <br /><br />I am now back home to see my family needs and tomorrow i'll be off from work so i'll go early to the square after I do some shopping. I'll buy alot of food for us there because it takes us everytime to leave the square inorder to get something to eat. So i'll pack my bag with food and water. <br /><br />I'll get u posted with any updates. Takecare my NOBLE friend. SALAM.</blockquote><br /><br /> <br /><blockquote>Forgot to tell u that on Tuesday we will be making some maintenance to the square. It looks ugly now lol takecare</blockquote><br /><br /><br /><blockquote>Hello my friend from the middle of Cairo, from the square. It took me alot to read all ur forwards. Sorry for not answering ur call, my cellphone is almost out of charge. I'll be leaving the square in half an hour. I've to look after my parents as well. I'll come back again tomorrow for another day in Tahrir. <br /><br />Curfew has been narrowed to (8pm-6am). But it is safe to leave after 8pm as long as u have ur personal ID. It isn't that dangerous as u think, even if it is, no 1can stop ur now.<br /><br />I don't have money these days. I didn't run to the bank today to withdraw as much as I can like many people did. I couldn't even reach an ATM. Most probably they've been raped violently by people's lust for cash today. Every 1 took his place from early in the morning in those ques regardless of what will happen MORE to our economy. They just wanted to drink it all now and not even tomorrow. I've to admit, this is selfishness. If I say that I am LOYAL TO MY COUNTRY THEN I'VE TO ACT IN AWAY THAT SUPPORTS ITS ECONOMY, NOT TO RUIN IT MORE. Sorry my friend for being nervous about that. I'm sorry. <br /><br />Yes. Suliman is talking to OTHER opposition groups. Those who are standing in the square now are the ROOTS. Actually, Sulieman is discusing the issues concerning the leaves and guess what, of ANOTHER TREE.<br /><br />Thanks to XXXX for his great concern, tell him not to worry. Even if we got arrested we won't stop. <br /><br />Our country is writing a brand new chapter in her own history so as to tell those who are looking forward to being in charge, BE AWARE OF THE ROARS OF MY PEOPLE, THEY CAN DO ANYTHING FOR ME. Mubarak's tale ain't over yet, but its gonna make alot think twice before they judge on us. <br /><br /><br />To all GOOD PEOPLE of our earth. To all those very few clean hands knocking to help. THANK YOU FOR UNDERSTANDING OUR CASE THE RIGHT WAY. You give us hope I swear. <br /><br />Sorry for being extra dramatic.<br />Salam<br /><br /></blockquote><br /><br />I wish them all the best of luck.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeeo5YmysA6v4h0tYpwf-pcwEQswbt7i-kuSIJzf8rWqbjj-Mg4k53zZsQeor84eX7Q6R17avcOmAey1RgKXv1ROxYHZAbQfKUXtBITwA6zl640mjmfSo7MyCZS3eoJSlHive0KGewCB7z/s1600/An-anti-government-demons-002.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 251px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeeo5YmysA6v4h0tYpwf-pcwEQswbt7i-kuSIJzf8rWqbjj-Mg4k53zZsQeor84eX7Q6R17avcOmAey1RgKXv1ROxYHZAbQfKUXtBITwA6zl640mjmfSo7MyCZS3eoJSlHive0KGewCB7z/s400/An-anti-government-demons-002.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571227814600821954" /></a><br /><br />Photographs: Khaled Elfiqi/EPA & John Moore/Getty ImagesRoger O Thornhillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14494843986294936586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2937356713099145904.post-76644555614201663122011-01-13T03:50:00.001-08:002011-01-13T03:56:47.250-08:00Reactions To TucsonI do have a lot to say about last week's shootings in Tucson, but rather than do so, I would just ask that you compare...<br /><br /><object width="480" height="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/all/modules/swftools/shared/flash_media_player/player5x2.swf"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="bgcolor" value="282828"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><param name="flashvars" value="config=http://www.whitehouse.gov/xml/video/25109/config.xml&path_to_plugins=http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/modules/wh_multimedia/wh_jwplayer/plugins&path_to_player=http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/all/modules/swftools/shared/flash_media_player/player5x2.swf"></param><embed src="http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/all/modules/swftools/shared/flash_media_player/player5x2.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="300" flashvars="config=http://www.whitehouse.gov/xml/video/25109/config.xml&path_to_plugins=http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/modules/wh_multimedia/wh_jwplayer/plugins&path_to_player=http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/all/modules/swftools/shared/flash_media_player/player5x2.swf&share_url=http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/2011/01/12/president-obama-memorial-arizona"></embed></object><br /><br />And contrast...<br /><br /><object width="460" height="370"><br /> <param name="movie" value="http://www.guardian.co.uk/video/embed"></param><br /> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><br /> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><br /> <param name="flashvars" value="endpoint=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2011/jan/12/sarah-palin-blood-libel-arizona-video/json"></param><br /> <embed src="http://www.guardian.co.uk/video/embed" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="460" height="370" flashvars="endpoint=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2011/jan/12/sarah-palin-blood-libel-arizona-video/json"></embed><br /></object><br /><br />I think you get the pictureRoger O Thornhillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14494843986294936586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2937356713099145904.post-17620220133988444102010-12-21T23:41:00.000-08:002010-12-22T02:14:55.067-08:00A Review Of The Year - 2010The human perception of time is a strange phenomenon. Looking back over the past year, it seems like aeons ago when we celebrated the turn of the new year, and looked forward to 2010 being somewhat better than the total rubbish that was 2009. So much has changed since then. Not least the abolition of optimism.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">January</span><br /><br />It seems incredible now, but <a href="http://conformconsumeobey.blogspot.com/2010/01/snowing-me-snowing-you-ha.html">back in January the nation was covered in snow</a>, airports were closed, and even the replacement bus service between Ilford and Braintree was struggling to negotiate mini roundabouts. And look at us now. How far we have come. Er, covered in snow, flightless and trainless, and blaming the Government for not stocking up on their grit supplies. 'Twas ever thus.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">February</span><br /><br />The General Election campaign began in earnest, and to be quite frank, bored most of us to tears and/or bigotry. We all knew Gordon Brown was about as popular as a fart in the confessional booth, but we also knew that David Cameron only had to turn up in order to win. Provided they didn't do anything mindnumbingly stupid, like (say) order a <a href="http://www.mydavidcameron.com/">massively expensive run of posters that were too easily satirised</a>, an overwhelming Tory majority was pretty much nailed on.<br /><br />Conservatives and right-wingers often like to tell us that Government is useless, while they rapidly dismantle the state's ability to support its most vulnerable citizens. And this lot were so keen to prove that point, they couldn't even wait to be elected to show just how useless they were. The <a href="http://conformconsumeobey.blogspot.com/2010/02/true-colours.html">lies and personal abuse</a> reached levels that only residents of Alaska wouldn't be shocked at, and the Tories' number 2 man George Osborne seemed to go missing down a Chilean mine for several months, in the hope that people might not realise he would imminently be running one of the world's largest economies. Off the edge of a cliff. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">March</span><br /><br />The world turned. Stuff happened. Nick Clegg was still, back then, an anonymous posh man that most people had never heard of. Greece still had an economy, and English fans generally still believed we had a chance of winning the World Cup.<br /><br />Me, I <a href="http://conformconsumeobey.blogspot.com/2010/03/mutts.html">blogged matters canine </a>in a vain and fruitless attempt to gain more hits. I have no shame. Or talent, to be fair.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">April</span><br /><br />Three explosive events captured the world's attention over the space of just one week. On April 14, newsreaders across the nation cursed their luck and came into work an hour early to practise pronouncing Eyjafjallajökull. On April 20, BP executives around the world cashed in their shares as Deepwater Horizon exploded, killing eleven workers and making the Gulf of Mexico the world's second oiliest entity, after George Osborne's personality.<br /><br />[I never thought I'd use the the word "personality" so close to the words "George Osborne". Never let it be said that blogging doesn't introduce you to all sorts of new and unforeseen experiences.]<br /><br />I said three explosive events. Of course the third, and by far the most inane (and therefore the only one of the three that I blogged), was <a href="http://conformconsumeobey.blogspot.com/2010/04/take-me-to-your-leaders.html">the first in a series of three leaders' debates</a> in the UK general election campaign. (It was three, wasn't it? I honestly can't remember now. Nor do I care.)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">May</span><br /><br />And finally, with a sigh and a whimper, <a href="http://conformconsumeobey.blogspot.com/2010/05/ch-ch-ch-ch-changes.html">it was over</a>. Gordon Brown returned to Fife, and the evolution of Nick Clegg's short political career from zero to hero to villain began in earnest. It all began so well. It's difficult to believe, now, but back then the phrase "I agree with Nick" was so popular that some people actually discovered who Nick Clegg was. Then the election happened; the Tories snatched a best-loser position from the jaws of an easy victory; and one sunny day two well-scrubbed former public schoolboys joshed happily in the garden of 10 Downing Street. The electorate outside looked from Liberal to Tory, and from Tory to Liberal, and from Liberal to Tory again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">June</span><br /><br />The world watched in awe, amazement and ennui as a collection of highly paid men in brightly coloured shirts kicked a leather ball to the soundtrack of a swarm of angry bees. Yes, it was time once again for the quadrennial ritual of British tabloids printing bizarre xenophobic chest-beating articles about how "our boys" would thrash the mighty Hun, followed shortly by "our boys" being righteously thrashed and humiliated by, er, the mighty Hun.<br /><br />In retrospect, I believe this is also the only month of 2010 which didn't involve the wrong kind of snow falling on the Southend Victoria to London Liverpool Street line. Although I may be wrong.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">July</span><br /><br />Was there a July this year? Are you sure? Can't say as I noticed. It just goes to show - if you didn't blog it, it didn't happen.<br /><br />Oh yes, one thing did happen of some note. Wikileaks - you may have heard of them - published the Afghan War Logs, simultaneously scoring a major coup for free speech and openness, and also proving what we already knew: that we are losing the war. Somewhere just across the border in Pakistan, an old man with dodgy kidneys pissed himself laughing.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">August</span><br /><br />Actually, I'm beginning to wonder whether I was in a coma this summer. Apart from a short holiday, I can't remember a single thing about August. Not a thing.<br /><br />I'd like to think that, while I wasn't watching, the new coalition Government finally decided to properly regulate the banks, that Simon Cowell was imprisoned for crimes against humanity, and that a keyboard-playing cat was elected Prime Minister of Italy. At least one of these events will probably happen in 2011. Yes, it's the cat one. But you knew that didn't you.<br /><br />What actually appears to have happened - according to a short and decidedly lazy bit of research on my part - is the World Bog Snorkelling Championships in Lungwort Wells. Now I'm beginning to wish I had paid more attention.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">September</span><br /><br />The year, rather like this blog post, limped wearily into its latter stages. The actor Tony Curtis died, triggering the first of two occasions this year when Twitter was dominated by the #IAmSpartacus hashtag. Showing FIFA how it's done, Britain staged the Bognor Birdman Competition and the World Gurning Championships in short order, and without a vuvuzela in sight.<br /><br />Elsewhere, 33 Chileans went to hitherto unseen lengths to avoid having to watch the X Factor.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">October</span><br /><br />The Chilean miners re-emerged in designer sunglasses to cheers from around the world. Incredibly, there was some good news on the telly for once. Right in between reports about natural disasters in countries that Americans can't find on a map, and reports about the disappearance of the British welfare state. And manufacturing economy. And money.<br /><br />In other news, I turned 42. Much gin was consumed. Canny hedge fund managers could have made a small fortune on the temporary shortage of Bombay Sapphire.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">November</span><br /><br />Are you still there? Good. Not long now.<br /><br />What a cracking month November was. Aung San Suu Kyi was finally released from house arrest in time to watch England's surprisingly competent start to the Ashes series. Apparently she had some other business to attend to, but I can't remember now what that was. Something to do with dictatorship and genocide. Details.<br /><br />Researchers at CERN trapped antimatter for the first time in human history, unless you count the accidental meeting of the Lib Dems' manifesto with the harsh glare of reality. In homage to the Prime Minister and his old Bullingdon chums, thousands of students converged on London to trash the gaff. Amazingly, this time no newspaper vendors were killed.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">December</span><br /><br />Don't ask me. Look out the bleedin' window.Roger O Thornhillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14494843986294936586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2937356713099145904.post-53452428118897677052010-12-05T23:27:00.000-08:002010-12-06T00:58:07.483-08:00Too Many BlacksLast week the inevitable happened - England failed in their bid to host the World Cup in 2018. Far more interesting than the story of the bid, though, is the story of the post-bid recriminations.<br /><br />Since the <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/article-1335981/Charles-Sale-BBC-boss-Mark-Thompson-backs-timing-controversial-Panorama-programme.html">Panorama broadcast</a> which highlighted FIFA corruption, just before FIFA's decision was announced, it is hardly surprising that most of the blame has been directed at FIFA as their apparent corruption has been exposed - although, more shamefully, some have blamed the BBC for daring to broadcast their allegations at such an inconvenient time. How dare they? Without going into this well-trodden debate too deeply, suffice to say that I would far prefer a free press to a World Cup.<br /><br />For me, though, there was one angle on the bid failure that almost all news outlets failed to pick up on. All but one - the Daily Mail.<br /><br />In a quite extraordinary article entitled <span style="font-weight:bold;">"<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1335107/WORLD-CUP-2018-Un-English-video-screened-FIFA-delegates.html">Was this the video that cost us? The very un-English presentation screened to FIFA delegates</a>"</span>, the blackshirts' favourite daily (through the medium of the hopefully-made-up "Paul Harris") decided that the bid failure was entirely down to - you guessed it - Political Correctness Gawn Mad.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIh9Cp6yGeGB3kuONoEOrg_SrMV3H-nqieJKUz0UUn8VE0Vjhf3xYA-YSKp-Hy_rgxiOUjC8s5IEmitrI9EvaBrmhura1ER1jjhieg-H61D5GxD4trwIWJGpqUda0GpWheyEQGAd36fOrh/s1600/article-1291213564444-0C4B723A000005DC-497652_636x300.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 189px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIh9Cp6yGeGB3kuONoEOrg_SrMV3H-nqieJKUz0UUn8VE0Vjhf3xYA-YSKp-Hy_rgxiOUjC8s5IEmitrI9EvaBrmhura1ER1jjhieg-H61D5GxD4trwIWJGpqUda0GpWheyEQGAd36fOrh/s400/article-1291213564444-0C4B723A000005DC-497652_636x300.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547482001241648002" /></a><br /><br />In an article peppered with sarcasm, and liberally sprinkled with screengrabs from the England 2018 bid video (one hilariously subtitled "<span style="font-style:italic;">A clip from the part of the video depicting a Muslim country</span>" - gasp! Muslims! RUN!!), the Daily Fail employs the usual code, not quite racist enough to prompt a complaint but plenty racist enough to make most sane people feel ill.<br /><br />This, remember, is the same paper that arguably started the process of the bid failure by exposing Lord Triesman's affair (and his off-the-record allegations of bid corruption) some six months ago - including <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1278706/FA-chief-Lord-Triesman-Spain-bid-bribe-World-Cup-referees.html">this classic pair of 'articles'</a> praising Lord Triesman's mistress and pointing out TWICE that it is not hard to see why he might find her "ivory skin" alluring. God forbid that a man might fancy a girl with some colour.<br /><br />They didn't even bother trying to rewrite the sentence:<br /><br /><blockquote>The woman who cost Football Association chief Lord Triesman his job is revealed as a flame-haired 37-year-old with an impressive academic background.<br /><br />As the Labour peer reflects on his speedy exit it is not hard to see why a man of 66 might find Melissa Jacobs with her slim physique and ivory skin alluring.</blockquote><br /><br />And....<br /><br /><blockquote>It's not hard to see why a man of 66 might find Melissa Jacobs attractive.<br /><br />With flowing flame red hair, a slim physique and ivory skin, she looks younger than her 37 years and has, it seems, an impressive academic background to boot.</blockquote><br /><br />Note to journalism students - clearly if your work to date comprises lazy stereotypes, and liberal use of copy/paste, there's a career out there for you somewhere.<br /><br />So. Anyway. Back to the bid, and why it failed. It's not so much the article itself that is staggering - although it is, particularly with quotes like:<br /><br /><blockquote>Selfless, that's us. Doing it for the greater good of the world. You could see it in the faces the film featured from locations all around the planet.</blockquote><br /><br />They've got the wrong kind of faces, you see. That's the problem. We failed because we used "ethnically diverse figures" (ie black people), or "African and Asian spectators" (ie black people), featuring fans including a "Caribbean family" (ie black people). To be fair they also point out that "close-ups of the players further underline the multinational diversity of our favourite Premiership icons" (yes, it seems even the team itself has been infiltrated by... black people). Terrifying, isn't it.<br /><br />Well... no. No, it isn't. Not as terrifying as some of the comments, anyway. Here is a selection.<br /><br /><blockquote>Britain has "multiculturalism" and is frightened to death of "offending" anyone.</blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;"> - But at least we're not frightened of "superfluous punctuation".</span><br /><br /><blockquote>Silly me thinking England was predominantly a white, christian country. Shows How wrong I was then.</blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;"> - Or, perhaps, it just shows how racist and intolerant you are. Silly you indeed.</span><br /><br /><blockquote>How disgusting that whoever organied this shambles of a bid chose not to portray England as English.</blockquote> <span style="font-style:italic;">- Did we portray England as Fijian? I missed that bit.</span><br /><br /><blockquote>Of course the good thing about losing the bid is that we wont have thousands of "spectators" claiming asylum.</blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;"> - The bad thing is, you already live here.</span><br /><br /><blockquote>The way we are going England is going to look like that before too long anyway.</blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;"> - Yes, that's right. Because THEY breed, don't they.</span><br /><br /><blockquote>Until the english start having some pride in Englishness instead of constantly living their lives through the cultures of other ethnic and national groups, they are simply not going to get themselfs out of the social malaise they're trapped in.</blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;"> - This from a reader in, er, New Zealand.</span><br /><br /><blockquote>Dear oh dear. We seem determined to PC ourselves out of existence.</blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;"> - I think this one was looking for an IT helpline.</span><br /><br /><blockquote>Maybe if England had done more to promote the Englishness of football and a little less multicultural ribbish theyd hVe had a better chance. Sucking up being all PC obviously failed miserably</blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;"> - And this from a reader who loves England so much he lives in, um, Canada. Where apparently they say 'ribbish' a lot.</span><br /><br /><blockquote>Once again, an example of how we are too scared to celebrate our national identity for fear that the PC brigade will come along and moan that there are not enough different cultures and minorities represented.</blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;"> - Now I'm getting images of the PC Brigade, sort of like the Light Brigade, but with black people instead of horses.</span><br /><br /><blockquote>This is the problem with multi culturalism...everyone loses their identity amidst the racial and cultural mash.....</blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;"> - Bloody hell, even the potatoes are multicultural.</span><br /><br /><blockquote>toe curlingly embarrassing, the insincere simpering and whimpering, the extraordinary, and weird obsession that this country has developed for multiculture</blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;"> - Yes, it's us that's obsessed with multiculture isn't it. Yes.</span><br /><br /><blockquote>Our heritage has been sold down the river, what remains is a hotchpotch that few people feel any connection with. England I am afraid is dead and soon even its history will be rewritten!</blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;"> - Branching out from a World Cup bid to a complete rewrite of the school history curriculum. Because of these fools, we lost at Agincourt and Waterloo.</span><br /><br /><blockquote>In this film Britain looks like a foreign country, which increasiingly it seems to be</blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;"> - Based on last week, that foreign country is Greenland. Brrr.</span><br /><br /><blockquote>It makes me feel sick to the stomach when we have this 'multicultural' rubbish rubbed in our faces. We should stick to traditional values and celebrate our heritage.</blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;"> - Yeah! We want traditional values! Like xenophobia! And bigotry! Yay!</span><br /><br /><blockquote>Final proof our identity, heritage and history have been whittled away!!</blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;"> - You read it here first, people - England is now just a sharpened stick.</span><br /><br /><blockquote>I want to see a video of GB, not Africa!! It's about football!! Not multiculturalism!!</blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;"> - No!! It's about exclamation marks!! Lots!! Of!! Them!!</span><br /><br /><blockquote>We are hardly the country we used to be. We have been watered down to much by uncontrolled immigration and folks wanting asylum.</blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;"> - Ah yes, the purity of our gene pool, watered down by... oh I can't be bothered.</span><br /><br /><blockquote>Typical. Hijacked by the PC loony left multiculturalists.</blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;"> - Loony left? Who, exactly? David Cameron?</span><br /><br /><blockquote>This country is dying because of its own generosity. Anyone can come here, be what they like, pray how they like, behave how they like.....no worries, the natives will pay, the natives will tolerate. It doesn't surprise me that our promotional video was full of foreigners; even if it had only been filmed in England it would still have been full of foreigners. Did I say this country was dying? yes, we had an Empire but it was largely taking good things to the world.</blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;"> - I don't know where to start with how wrong this statement is. I just hope this person doesn't live near me.</span><br /><br /><blockquote>well i am pleased, it will keep some of the scum of the world trying to get here more easier on the back of being a football supporter.</blockquote><span style="font-style:italic;"> - Er, I'm pretty sure we've got plenty of our own scum right here...</span><br /><br />And my personal favourite:<br /><br /><blockquote>Well done Daily Mail for having the courage to speak up and say the things the silent majority are thinking!. It's about time we took pride in OUR culture for once.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">If only Diana were here to see what this nation has become</span>. What would she say?</blockquote><br /><br />Now, ask yourself. Honestly. Do you want to host a World Cup, and find people like this welcoming fans and players from around the world (ie black people)? Neither do I.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFkwCqbRqESQCgP5r48r3Vxogg5nN0yXoZfj__69s5eQVobJPZ38QX3r_o7yIk20ad3WTvC6iKTupgBUqfEb8vxwe9-hA5I2GEUCJBhvFWCSceRCAw01OMXxB3FXDnKnYoWgR2PUgA1skn/s1600/article-1335026-0C52EDAE000005DC-816_634x436.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 275px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFkwCqbRqESQCgP5r48r3Vxogg5nN0yXoZfj__69s5eQVobJPZ38QX3r_o7yIk20ad3WTvC6iKTupgBUqfEb8vxwe9-hA5I2GEUCJBhvFWCSceRCAw01OMXxB3FXDnKnYoWgR2PUgA1skn/s400/article-1335026-0C52EDAE000005DC-816_634x436.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547481911905786338" /></a><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-style:italic;">Disappointed kids wondering what Diana would say</span></div>Roger O Thornhillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14494843986294936586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2937356713099145904.post-55465459919677258522010-11-09T02:50:00.000-08:002010-11-09T03:13:46.160-08:00More Tea, Vicar?I have been inundated with requests to resume this blog.<br /><br />Oh, alright then, I got two requests.<br /><br />From my father and my sister, if you must know.<br /><br />But hey, who am I to decline. So here goes.<br /><br />There has been much focus recently on the 'success' of the billionaire-funded ultra-reactionary Tea Party movement in the US mid-term elections, followed by today's release of George W Bush's memoirs, in which he claims (inter alia) that torture helps prevent terrorism. I'll leave the staggering wrongness of that assertion aside - for now, at least - and just copy below a series of comments written by Doug Offenhartz, which I saw on the Twitter feed of <a href="http://www.twitter.com/ayeletw">Ayelet Waldman</a>.<br /><br /><br /><blockquote><br />Hey, tea bagging pricks! NOW you're mad?<br /><br />You didn't get mad when the Supreme Court stopped a legal recount and appointed a President.<br /><br />You didn't get mad when Cheney allowed Energy company officials to dictate energy policy and push us to invade Iraq.<br /><br />You didn't get mad when a covert CIA operative got outed.<br /><br />You didn't get mad when the Patriot Act got passed.<br /><br />You didn't get mad when we illegally invaded a country that posed no threat to us.<br /><br />You didn't get mad when we spent over $800 billion (and counting) on said illegal war.<br /><br />You didn't get mad when Bush borrowed more money from foreign sources than the previous 42 Presidents combined.<br /><br />You didn't get mad when over $10 billion in cash just disappeared in Iraq.<br /><br />You didn't get mad when you found out we were torturing people.<br /><br />You didn't get mad when Bush embraced trade and outsourcing policies that shipped 6 million American jobs out of the country.<br /><br />You didn't get mad when the government was illegally wiretapping Americans.<br /><br />You didn't get mad when we didn't catch Osama Bin Laden.<br /><br />You didn't get mad when Bush rang up $10 trillion in combined budget and current account deficits.<br /><br />You didn't get mad when you saw the horrible conditions at Walter Reed Hospital.<br /><br />You didn't get mad when we let a major US city, New Orleans, drown.<br /><br />You didn't get mad when we gave people who had more money than they could spend, the filthy rich, over a trillion dollars in tax breaks.<br /><br />You didn't get mad with the worst 8 years of job creation in several decades.<br /><br />You didn't get mad when over 200,000 US Citizens lost their lives because they had no health insurance.<br /><br />You didn't get mad when lack of oversight and regulations from the Bush Administration caused US Citizens to lose 12 trillion dollars in investments, retirement, and home values.<br /><br />You got mad when a black man was elected President and decided that people in America deserved the right to see a doctor if they are sick.<br /></blockquote><br /><br />Beautifully put, Doug. It just makes you wonder how people's memories can be so short, that Obama is now taking the blame for all the ills that the US is currently suffering. Given Bush's total lack of remorse for the damage he did, the above comes as a useful reminder of just how far we have come in the past two years. Now it's up to the American people to make sure we never go back.Roger O Thornhillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14494843986294936586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2937356713099145904.post-33086273025951805862010-07-18T23:38:00.000-07:002010-07-18T23:39:05.484-07:00A Short AnnouncementThis blog has been suspended/discontinued due to lack of interest/talent.Roger O Thornhillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14494843986294936586noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2937356713099145904.post-15089362859210960692010-05-03T23:38:00.000-07:002010-05-04T01:09:25.441-07:00Ch Ch Ch Ch Changes...The most closely fought and unpredictable election of my voting life is now drawing to a fascinating denouement. Here's my take on the past few weeks' campaigning, starting with the losers. And, just to make me look even more silly after the count on Thursday night, I've also added my predictions.<br /><br /><strong>Labour - Gordon Brown</strong><br /><br />Yes, I know we are all voting for candidates, not parties or leaders, but such is the way the campaigns have all been structured - particularly with the new leaders' TV debates - that UK elections are becoming ever more 'Presidential' in style. Which has been a massive blow for the incumbents, given that they have no personalities to push forward in a personality-driven environment.<br /><br />Poor old Labour. Thirteen years after the heady days of 1997 when they rolled into Downing Street on a wave of euphoria, Labour are about to be unceremoniously kicked out, despite their achievements. The past 13 years have been a mixed bag, but there is no denying that Labour has done extraordinarily well with policies such as SureStart. Sadly for them, their party and campaign are led by Britain's most uncharismatic man. With the possible exception of Piers Morgan.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihI-q4YVmC7CY2nBJHKO6T7MLF7v1WobNU90NONyrMbVeq7twDbNhwBA9q4MisWI_x-bnSyLh9SePp9Zcme6ngh9Ybo4kOzJbA-3cdVJomCzB_S9OcTPApjV8Q7KY8-dDpCXiR4YvWAx1s/s1600/gordon-brown-404_667800c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihI-q4YVmC7CY2nBJHKO6T7MLF7v1WobNU90NONyrMbVeq7twDbNhwBA9q4MisWI_x-bnSyLh9SePp9Zcme6ngh9Ybo4kOzJbA-3cdVJomCzB_S9OcTPApjV8Q7KY8-dDpCXiR4YvWAx1s/s400/gordon-brown-404_667800c.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467312127780491346" /></a><br />Staring defeat in the face, and unable to afford the sort of massively expensive campaign the Tories have been able to roll out, Labour are limping to the finish line with ever more desperate attempts to woo the wavering voters. Calling a potential supporter a 'bigot' was supposed to be a low point, but still they kept digging the hole ever deeper, culminating last week in the reappearance of Tony Blair. Surely they're playing to lose, now. (In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if they've put a massive bet on themselves to get trounced, and thereby refill the party coffers in one fell swoop. I call this '<a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/more_sport/article7114318.ece">John Higgins</a>' fundraising.)<br /><br />Overseas readers of this blog - if there are any - may be amazed to find that Tony Blair is now considered to be a political liability. His popularity in the USA remains very high, but here in the UK we have this quaint old-fashioned thing where we still dislike politicians for lying - even though hating a politician for lying is rather like hating a dog for licking his own balls: it's unsightly, but it's an integral part of who he his. (And we all wish we could get away with it.)<br /><br />Incredibly, given the massive unpopularity that is inevitable for the incumbent party after three terms and amid a crushing recession, Labour may not actually do too badly. Psephologists worldwide are no doubt scratching their heads as to how Labour can be polling 28% just two days before the vote, which is actually several points higher than they have been polling for most of the current Parliament. You've seen it here first, people - millions of votes earned purely out of sympathy for a dying animal. Labour are, in fact, the political wing of <a href="http://www.planetjedward.net/">Jedward</a>.<br /><br />My prediction - 215 seats<br /><br /><strong>Liberal Democrat - Nick Clegg</strong><br /><br />The LibDem campaign has been a game of two halves. Prior to the first leaders' debate, hardly anyone knew who Nick Clegg was, and the LibDems were still polling below 20%. To be fair to Clegg, I think a major reason why so many people were unaware of his existence was down to the almost total lack of coverage of the LibDems in much of the (Tory) press, but his strong performance in the debates earned him an instance bounce in the polls up to almost 30% - and, creditably, this is a position they appear to have sustained to date.<br /><br />This brings me to the second half of the LibDems' campaign, and possibly the most surreal part of what has been a pretty topsy-turvy few weeks. Once it became apparent that Clegg was a real threat to the status quo, the press reaction was instant and vicious. What began with some mild digs about nobody knowing who Clegg was - patently no longer true after the first debate - quickly descended into more desperate obloquy and ad hominem attacks. Not surprisingly, this is my personal favourite:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0nkOokeHpmCMUvRfDgvWO8U1yQzSMQ9hSkbXdHIyv9J2eu5APCQP8kkq1tkwbgnUqmLyfDPYqKYyla5d_gJEU4-sWGp6GN76kY3IEDIlVLyg84C7pqGECRu_7wmaSVvnlQtZ9b-DI1OwJ/s1600/100422mail.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 275px; height: 350px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0nkOokeHpmCMUvRfDgvWO8U1yQzSMQ9hSkbXdHIyv9J2eu5APCQP8kkq1tkwbgnUqmLyfDPYqKYyla5d_gJEU4-sWGp6GN76kY3IEDIlVLyg84C7pqGECRu_7wmaSVvnlQtZ9b-DI1OwJ/s400/100422mail.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467314266675316146" /></a><br />How can anyone seriously try to get any laughs out of the LibDems when you're up against this calibre of comedy?<br /><br />When the Daily "Hurrah For The Blackshirts" Mail starts falling foul of Godwin's Law, you know you must be doing something right. Unfortunately for Clegg, far beyond these pathetic attempts to scare the electorate, he is still hampered by the same ball and chain he always was - a vote for the LibDems is statistically worth around 10% of a vote for another party, in terms of seats gained. Unless they are able to overcome an electoral system strongly skewed against them, they will never get the chance to change it, and so they will remain effectively irrelevant.<br /><br />So, Cleggy, it's back to "my home town Sheffield" for the public-school educated Eurocrat. But look on the bright side. You might still be irrelevant, but at least people know who you are now.<br /><br />My prediction - 84 seats<br /><br /><strong>Conservative - David Cameron</strong><br /><br />Anointed as the winner as long as two years ago, Cameron and his motley band of homophobes and Bullingdon chums are now limping across the line. If you had just arrived in the UK and read the papers today - mostly heavily biased toward the Tories, of course - you would think that Cameron has run a spectacularly successful campaign, and is about to win a resounding mandate from the British people.<br /><br />What seems to have been forgotten is that, just one year ago, the Conservatives were polling consistently over 40% (now seemingly stuck in the mid-30s), and had a lead over Labour of over 20%. Months of '<a href="http://www.google.co.uk/#hl=en&source=hp&q=tory+landslide&meta=&rlz=1R2GZAZ_en-GB&aq=f&aqi=g1&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=&fp=945658b72e22a0e6">articles</a>' like this...<br /><br /><blockquote>3 Sep 2009 ... DAVID Cameron is on course to win a sensational landslide general election victory next May, an exclusive Sun poll reveals tonight.<br /><br />27 Jul 2009 ... Get ready for a Tory landslide. That is the prediction of a new and sophisticated electoral forecasting tool...<br /><br />Stephens Scown snap poll predicts Tory landslide ... David Cameron's Tory party will sweep to power with a massive 64% of the vote...<br /></blockquote><br />... have been quietly shelved in favour of bizarre attacks on the opposition parties, and (unwittingly) hilarious puff pieces about Dave the normal bloke. Meanwhile, the Tories are stuck on the level of support they had when Michael Howard royally buggered up the 2005 election.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO7YjNRNStzjRDP6Yv2cGtByCVP3pH9uwJhWaVkx2XzRSX5MMo-80RM1-63vwleLk0kyKQap2e5L5v2_LMRAgEfn9FrBm0SARRQe1uaYDTEwtazirYSYRM0EsC4dvtC-R5SmSpv_GHxl-9/s1600/cameron,%2520david.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO7YjNRNStzjRDP6Yv2cGtByCVP3pH9uwJhWaVkx2XzRSX5MMo-80RM1-63vwleLk0kyKQap2e5L5v2_LMRAgEfn9FrBm0SARRQe1uaYDTEwtazirYSYRM0EsC4dvtC-R5SmSpv_GHxl-9/s400/cameron,%2520david.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467313580971349378" /></a><br />For the immensely wealthy banker's son, educated at Eton and married into aristocracy, trying to come across as a regular member of the human race must be a massive task. So I suppose Dave deserves some credit for success in this regard, in that at least fewer than 50% of the electorate believe he breathes with the use of gills. <em>(Note: this result was obtained from a non-scientifically conducted poll, and may not be an accurate reflection of public opinion.)</em> Nevertheless, no matter how it is spun, this election is almost certain to end up as a failure for the Tory party, even if they do form the next Government.<br /><br />Some of the best entertainment in the election campaign - despite Gordon Brown's best efforts to insult his way to the top - have come from Dave. His appearances on the leaders' TV debates have been must-watch stuff: from the rabbit in the headlights in the first debate, through to the more confident (but still appearing to look like a face drawn on a thumb) in the final debate. Cameron and his would-be ministers, particularly the hard drinking Billy Hague, have been zooming around the country in private jets kindly loaned by their 'ordinary hard-working family' friends to marginal constituencies flooded in leaflets by their 'ordinary hard-working' non-domiciled tax exile friends, in a chaotic attempt to achieve the victory they all thought was absolutely guaranteed.<br /><br />The tactics have been brilliantly awful. Remember promising to give tax breaks to married couples, only to withdraw the policy, and then resurrect it in a form that punishes widows of military casualties while simultaneously pretending that £2.88 a week is going to make the blindest bit of difference to anyone's marital status? Remember the "great ignored" and the "big society", just two of their bizarre poli-speak anodyne slogans which vanished as quickly as they appeared? In any other year these would rightly be seen as the shambles they are, but somehow these people are going to be running our country for the next five years. <br /><br />God help us all.<br /><br />Prediction - 317 seats, one term of Government, three summers of civil unrest and the total destruction of the countryRoger O Thornhillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14494843986294936586noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2937356713099145904.post-20475698275046060072010-04-16T02:59:00.000-07:002010-04-16T03:25:17.536-07:00Take Me To Your Leaders<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpIlEeRjv9lR3c86SjGvxMRUtriHPHtUU1kiE_7ihuLD_bb0UdRsT31BZFWkYF5Gj7cnJqmBFVnT8lybtjxXlmQP-tOvnB89ocMO8emych85cs3Efg1JZnyJF86g2PKprzRVycwa8-4JBf/s1600/Political-TV-debates-001.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpIlEeRjv9lR3c86SjGvxMRUtriHPHtUU1kiE_7ihuLD_bb0UdRsT31BZFWkYF5Gj7cnJqmBFVnT8lybtjxXlmQP-tOvnB89ocMO8emych85cs3Efg1JZnyJF86g2PKprzRVycwa8-4JBf/s400/Political-TV-debates-001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460678168026596642" /></a><br /><br /><br />Three things stick in my mind after last night's historic first-ever UK party leaders' debate. Some or all of these may be utterly irrelevant, and as far from policy as it's possible to get. So if you're looking for a serious analysis, try a proper blogger.<br /><br /><br /><strong>The Missing Billions</strong><br /><br />About half way through the debate, Brown and Cameron's bickering about National Insurance Contributions (now known as "jobs tax" in Toryworld) reached a nadir with this exchange:<br /><br />GORDON BROWN: <blockquote>If you were elected, in a budget in July, you've got to take six<br />billion out of the system, other than health and defence.<br />Where does that money come from? You've promised you'll<br />take six billion out. It can only end up with the loss of<br />thousands of jobs, including teachers. You will not back us<br />and support us on keeping education. Why won't you support<br />educational spending, as we do?</blockquote><br />DAVID CAMERON: <blockquote><em>I think people can hear that this is a complete invention of a figure plucked out of the air</em>. We're saying the government<br />could save one pound out of every hundred it spends. Now,<br />what small business, what large business, what family, frankly,<br />hasn't had to do that during this difficult recession?</blockquote><br /><br />David Cameron responded to Gordon Brown's claim that the Tories plan to cut £6 billion by stating that the figure was a "complete invention". I have italicised the relevant sentence above. (Incidentally, I can think of one family that probably <em>hasn't</em> had to cut their expenditure by 10%. Step forward Mr & Mrs Cameron of Witney, Oxon.)<br /><br />Now if that were true, and Gordon <strong>had</strong> just plucked the figure out of the air, imagine my surprise when this happened:<br /><br />AUDIENCE MEMBER: <blockquote>How certain can you be that your party's policies will deal with<br />the budget deficits without damaging economic growth?</blockquote><br />ALASTAIR STEWART: <blockquote>Mr Cameron?</blockquote><br />DAVID CAMERON: <blockquote>This is an absolutely vital question, and I'm glad it's been asked, because we've got to get this economy moving. We've<br />got to get this economy growing. <em>What we say is save £6<br />billion in the coming current year </em>in order to stop the jobs tax<br />which we think will derail the recovery.</blockquote><br /><br />Now I'm a little confused. If this six billion was a "complete invention", where's the money coming from? Oh, I see:<br /><br />DAVID CAMERON: <blockquote>These two constantly argue about waste as if we can<br />create...or we can fill the black hole in public finances by<br />saving money on paper clips and pot plants in Whitehall. Of<br />course we can get rid of a bit of waste. But that isn't the big...<br />That doesn't really address the big questions we need to ask<br />ourselves. I think we need to be clear with you, open with you,<br />straight with you. We've tried to do that. We've set out £15<br />billion worth of savings. I've listed some of them.</blockquote><br /><br />... it's because the six billion is in fact FIFTEEN billion. "Some" of which Dave has listed - yeah, paper clips and pot plants. Thanks a million. Or, actually, thanks fifteen billion.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Serving Your Country</strong><br /><br />All three of the leaders used the tactic of anecdotes about 'real' people. Here's an example. This man has served his country above and beyond the call of duty.<br /><br />DAVID CAMERON: <blockquote>I was in Plymouth recently, and a 40-year-old black<br />man made the point to me. He said, "I came here when I was<br />six, I've served in the Royal Navy for 30 years."</blockquote><br /><br />Now, I may be wrong, but I have my suspicions that this man does not actually exist. I'm pretty sure the Royal Navy no longer uses ten-year-old boys on their ships. Unless Dave thinks the forces are still in the age of Horatio Hornblower.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Cross-Party Consensus</strong><br /><br />I couldn't resist. I tried, really I did, but I couldn't resist. So here it is - the (completely un-)official "I agree with Nick" count.<br /><br />Gordon Brown - 4 (plus a "Nick also agrees with me", which Nick rebutted)<br /><br />David Cameron - a very disappointing nul points<br /><br />And I thought I even heard Nick Clegg himself say it at one point.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><em>All quotes are taken from the BBC website, who kindly posted a <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/16_04_10_firstdebate.pdf">full transcript</a> in pdf format.</em>Roger O Thornhillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14494843986294936586noreply@blogger.com2