Monthly Archives: January 2010

TweetEarlier today I received an email asking me to sign this petition concerning the Equality Bill. It’s about Schedule 9, Paragraph 2, Subsection 8. I tried to do a bit of reading on this but soon found myself tightly enmeshed … Continue reading →

TweetAs I presaged last Wednesday, the Democrats lost Ted Kennedy’s old Senate seat to the Republicans for the first time in over 60 years. Big disaster. However, it’s very clear that their candidate, Martha Coakley, was disastrous – losing 11 … Continue reading →

Tweet….Or: Where to draw the line in broadcasting Steve Penk. He’s a bit of a scamp. Does wind ups. Once wound up Michael Winner. Made a lot of money doing it on Capital Radio and now does the breakfast show on a radio … Continue reading →

TweetWell, one’s staff are anyway. Prince William announced to the New Zealand parliament yesterday: The Queen started tweeting a few months ago But when you look at it, it’s actually her Palace flunkies who are tweeting regularly with thunderously interesting tweets … Continue reading →

TweetBanning the Burka in Britain? That’s what UKIP want. They are showing their true colours. This is ridiculous, extreme right wing, pull up the drawbridges, Little Englander policy at its worse. As I have said before, the freedom to wear … Continue reading →

TweetUpdate: Please see my review of “Mo” here. There’s a couple of fascinating historical political portrayals coming up. Rupert Everett as Jeremy Thorpe is apparently in production as a film – which I am not particularly looking forward to. And … Continue reading →

TweetThe Q&A in Guardian Weekend is usually worth flicking over, but this week there’s real quality: the subject is Steve Coogan. His comedy and philosophy combine seamlessly. The highspot is this: Who would you invite to your dream dinner party? Donald … Continue reading →

TweetJames Graham continues to provide one of the key services in our democracy – specifically bringing us the musings of the LibDems’ favourite “Marmite” politician, Lembit (see meaning 3 here) from the “Daily J Arthur”; without us having to wade through inundations of … Continue reading →

TweetThe leader of the Alliance party of Northern Ireland, David Ford, is being tipped to be the first Justice Minister in the province. According to UTV: (The Alliance) party is seen as the only grouping that could command cross-community support. I … Continue reading →

TweetBy Beau Bo d’Or via mydavidcameron.com Tweet This Post Tweet

TweetYou can donate via the Disasters Emergency Committee to help the people of Haiti here. The “Disaster Emergency Committee” sounds a tad bureaucratic but it is basically all the major UK overseas aid charities (listed below) clubbing together to collect money and … Continue reading →

TweetMy little tribute to Teddy Pendergrass, giant of soul music. One hell of a performer. Tweet This Post Tweet

TweetI’ve filled out the online questionaire to input into the MPs’ expenses consultation by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. Hopefully this will be the last review/consultation. So it’s worth getting your views in here. The summaries (of their deliberations on … Continue reading →

Tweet photo credit: prettywar-stl It should have been a shoe-in for the Democrats. Ted Kennedy’s old senate seat is up for grabs at a special (by-) election on January 19th. This is in Massachusetts, the heartland of the Democrats. The … Continue reading →

Tweet“The World’s Astonishing News” is one of those crazy Japanese TV programmes that used to be featured on “Tarrant on TV”. It specialises in “dramatic re-enactments” – like the one immediately below (mind you, goodness knows what it is about). … Continue reading →

TweetWhoda thunkit? Tweet This Post Tweet

Tweet     Try as I might, I haven’t been able to identify these two fellows seen by the canal in Newbury today. Garganey? Teal? I tried the RSPB bird identifier but I think I might have confused it. Goosander? … Continue reading →