The weekly best of is up a Tim's place.
I, as usual, am running late, so I'll read the ones I haven't yet seen late.
I, as usual, am running late, so I'll read the ones I haven't yet seen late.
Sunday, April 09, 2006
Jack Straw's bed - a Google Search
Why is someone in Belgium googling for jack straw bed - Google Search?
And thanks to Katy for making the comment that put that little nugget into the post; another good reason to use a commenting system that puts the comments on the same page as the post, haloscan et al give those awful annoying pop-ups, no thanks.
And thanks to Katy for making the comment that put that little nugget into the post; another good reason to use a commenting system that puts the comments on the same page as the post, haloscan et al give those awful annoying pop-ups, no thanks.
Technorati tags: Jack Straw, Condi Rice
Saturday, April 08, 2006
The POWER of party funding
Very interesting discussion over on Strange Stuff on party funding and the Power report, one I've been planning to write about but, as usual, not got around to finishing reading the damned report.
Essentially, I'm not sold on state funding of parties, and prefer instead a mixture of campaign spending caps and free access to more media in a less regulated manner; "party election broadcasts" are dull as ditchwater, but at least they're equitable, let's update and improve upon that model so that parties don't need to spend as much on gimicky adverts, posters, etc.
Alternately, don't give the money to parties directly, book the advertising space centrally, pay for it centrally, and share it out as per PEBs (which are determined by number of candidates fielded and thus fairly allotted to new parties as well).
If we go for state finance directly to parties (and I'd prefer we didn't), it has to be on something similar to the POWER model, wherein we, when voting, also tick a box to allot £3 or similar to a particular party, not necessarily the one we're voting for.
Better that than dodgy loans and party treasurers begging the rich for cash. But better to change the system such that they don't need to send out the begging bowl, in any form.
Essentially, I'm not sold on state funding of parties, and prefer instead a mixture of campaign spending caps and free access to more media in a less regulated manner; "party election broadcasts" are dull as ditchwater, but at least they're equitable, let's update and improve upon that model so that parties don't need to spend as much on gimicky adverts, posters, etc.
Alternately, don't give the money to parties directly, book the advertising space centrally, pay for it centrally, and share it out as per PEBs (which are determined by number of candidates fielded and thus fairly allotted to new parties as well).
If we go for state finance directly to parties (and I'd prefer we didn't), it has to be on something similar to the POWER model, wherein we, when voting, also tick a box to allot £3 or similar to a particular party, not necessarily the one we're voting for.
Better that than dodgy loans and party treasurers begging the rich for cash. But better to change the system such that they don't need to send out the begging bowl, in any form.
UKIP 'parks tank' - the world laughs.
So, they've made good on their promise to "park their tank on David Cameron's abandoned lawn"
Well, sort of. Guys? It's not a tank. Even the Telegraph puts 'tank' in quotes. It's an APC of some sort (no, I can't tell what type, although I know some that can).
Politicians break promises during a cheap publicity stunt? doesn't this take the whole level of naffness that seems to surround UKIP to a new level?
Nosemonkey:
To a decentralising democrat like me, it's a godawful mess. But I don't propose to abolish Britain (or even England) because I dislike Whitehall, I propose to reform it and decentralise. Brussels employs less staff than many city councils, it needs to be reformed, opened up, democratised and have it's tasks, powers, aims and objectives clearly defined. The loons that object to being "governed by foreigners" and similar are completely missing the point.
Whitehall does more damage to the Westcountry than Brussels does. Let's reform both, shall we?
Well, sort of. Guys? It's not a tank. Even the Telegraph puts 'tank' in quotes. It's an APC of some sort (no, I can't tell what type, although I know some that can).
Politicians break promises during a cheap publicity stunt? doesn't this take the whole level of naffness that seems to surround UKIP to a new level?
Nosemonkey:
Go on UKIP, you morons - keep tilting at the Brussels windmill in a vain effort to "save" this country. Meanwhile the real danger, The Rt. Hon. A.C.L. Blair, MP, is busy looting, raping and pillaging the constitution while your backs are turned. Were UKIP to reunite with the Tories rather than engage in these pathetic public spats, Labour would be in genuine trouble. It'd be funny if it wasn't so damned pathetic.The problem with Europe isn't that it exists, it's that it follows the same bureacratic centralist model that Whitehall has adopted. Decisions made in secret, enforced by diktat, with no mandate or support from the populace.
To a decentralising democrat like me, it's a godawful mess. But I don't propose to abolish Britain (or even England) because I dislike Whitehall, I propose to reform it and decentralise. Brussels employs less staff than many city councils, it needs to be reformed, opened up, democratised and have it's tasks, powers, aims and objectives clearly defined. The loons that object to being "governed by foreigners" and similar are completely missing the point.
Whitehall does more damage to the Westcountry than Brussels does. Let's reform both, shall we?
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Do you live in Englefield Green East?
Vote for this guy:
Really pissed off about the vomitous, turdridden herd of diseased bloodsucking rat-swine that masquerades as our government?Because, let's face it, that has to be the best opening election address I've seen yet. Even better:
while you're here, why not contribute to the campaign? I can spend, I think, up to £600. If there's more I promise to spend the surplus on beer. Now there's a political promise you can rely on.
No2ID - Ebay PR Stunt
If enough people with an eBay account put it on their watch list, it gets onto eBay pulse. More discussion here at their forums, I just got an email about it. I don't have an eBay account (yet)...
Technorati tags: ID cards, National Identity Register, NIR, Freedom, Civil Liberties, ID for sale, eBay
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Passports, ID cards, NIR - A call to arms
Bastards. I believe, given that the deputy to the sweaty baboon has answered in Parliament that we can renew at any time, that they'd have a hard job of changing the rules now. So the plan to renew next year proceeds apace.
I went to the pub this evening, met up with Chris and also the local No2ID organiser. Get involved. Even if it's just to give up a morning leafletting instead of shopping. If you can't see a local organiser? Any reason why you couldn't get together with friends and become one? This needs to be a campaign on two fronts, one is civil disobediance; renew your passport early, don't register, refuse to register, get fined, refuse to pay, get headlines and the rest.
The second is electoral. I repeat the earlier statement; at the next General Election, ask every candidate:
Between now and then? Councils across the country have passed resolutions on the issue. Local elections are coming up in much of the country. Make it an issue. Some people (and I'm one of them) have a bit of a problem with national issues effecting local campaigns. But this really does affect everything.
Big picture? I repeat my call. At the next General election, we'll need to ensure we have a strong tactical voting campaign against any candidates that refuse to repeal this Act. Other issues, such as Leg/Reg, etc also matter. But this one, to me, is the big one.
We have to get them out.
In the meantime?
We cannot (and will not) submit to a database state. To arms my friends, to arms.
I went to the pub this evening, met up with Chris and also the local No2ID organiser. Get involved. Even if it's just to give up a morning leafletting instead of shopping. If you can't see a local organiser? Any reason why you couldn't get together with friends and become one? This needs to be a campaign on two fronts, one is civil disobediance; renew your passport early, don't register, refuse to register, get fined, refuse to pay, get headlines and the rest.
The second is electoral. I repeat the earlier statement; at the next General Election, ask every candidate:
Will you vote to abolish the National Identity Register
If they don't promise to do so, make sure they're not elected.Between now and then? Councils across the country have passed resolutions on the issue. Local elections are coming up in much of the country. Make it an issue. Some people (and I'm one of them) have a bit of a problem with national issues effecting local campaigns. But this really does affect everything.
Big picture? I repeat my call. At the next General election, we'll need to ensure we have a strong tactical voting campaign against any candidates that refuse to repeal this Act. Other issues, such as Leg/Reg, etc also matter. But this one, to me, is the big one.
We have to get them out.
In the meantime?
Labour members!
There's still much, much talk of a 'coronation'. The Labour party has a strong tradition as a democratic party. I've voted Labour in the past FFS. Don't let the give Brown a coronation; make sure there's a leadership campaign, make NIR an issue.We cannot (and will not) submit to a database state. To arms my friends, to arms.
Technorati tags: ID cards, National Identity Register, NIR, Passport renewal, Freedom, Civil Liberties
Sunday, April 02, 2006
Jack Straw: Pratt
Curious Hamster:
Jack Straw really is an odious turd. Still, it's best to get even, not angry. And it's relatively easy in this case.He's right. Jack really is an odious turd.
Where were all the pro-Condi demonstrators, Jack? I didn't see a single one on the news. If they had asked me... well, I doubt very much I could have done better. There are just so many more people who don't like what she stands for.
Check the headlines Jack
(Nifty Auto code generator here)<a href="http://www.number10.gov.uk/output/Page1381.asp"
title="odious turd">odious turd</a>
Technorati tags: Jack Straw, NuLab
Tired Tony to go?
Sometimes, News Headlines make me smile a lot.
BBC NEWS | Politics | Blair 'could quit by end of year'
BBC NEWS | Politics | Voters 'want Blair resignation'
But really, given both storied use the same picture, Don't you think Blair looks tired?
BBC NEWS | Politics | Blair 'could quit by end of year'
BBC NEWS | Politics | Voters 'want Blair resignation'
But really, given both storied use the same picture, Don't you think Blair looks tired?
Saturday, April 01, 2006
eBay, Blue Peter and market stupidity
Remember when I said this?
The BBC chose to issue an item that had not expiration date and no link to one specific person, and negotiate cheap entry deals in many many attractions. Um, can anyone else see the obvious flaw here?
"Unscrupulous"? Maybe. Rational? Absolutely. I have lots of items left over from my childhood and early adult life. There's a huge pile of them by my door. It's getting smaller as I sell bits of it. Some of those bits, I don't want to part with. Others I don't care about. If someone wants to give me money for something I don't want?
That's called freedom.
Note to the BBC. Make them person specific, or stop whinging. Note to the two LibDem MPs named above. Get with it, the whole point of Liberalism is you agree with basic market principles.
(via)
on 80% of the issues that matter to me, I'm pretty close to the Lib DemsWell, some people took that to mean I agreed with the LibDems 80% of the time. Not true. On the 'big' issues (is the ones I write about here), the Lib Dems are the most sound. On others? Oh dear. Oh dear oh dear oh dear:
Two MPs have tabled a Commons motion demanding that internet auction sites ban the sale of Blue Peter badges.Guys? It's called a Market Economy. If an item gets you priviledges you don't want, and others do, and it means little to you, sell it. If said item will make your life, or that of those you care about, better, then buy it. If you believe it's worth the money, this is called 'positive utility'. It's a basic principle; I understand it, and I'm not an economist.
Liberal Democrats John Barrett and Andrew George have condemned what they say is an "unscrupulous" practice.
The BBC chose to issue an item that had not expiration date and no link to one specific person, and negotiate cheap entry deals in many many attractions. Um, can anyone else see the obvious flaw here?
"Unscrupulous"? Maybe. Rational? Absolutely. I have lots of items left over from my childhood and early adult life. There's a huge pile of them by my door. It's getting smaller as I sell bits of it. Some of those bits, I don't want to part with. Others I don't care about. If someone wants to give me money for something I don't want?
That's called freedom.
Note to the BBC. Make them person specific, or stop whinging. Note to the two LibDem MPs named above. Get with it, the whole point of Liberalism is you agree with basic market principles.
(via)
Friday, March 31, 2006
Miscellany
Jonn Elledge on the mainstream media's middle class bias. As he is also a mainstream media journalist, glass houses?
Paulie on an idiotic LibDem, Red Ken and the Standards Board for England (again). Note to Mr Tuffrey. Term limits are neither Liberal nor Democratic; if you don't like an incumbent, campaign to get him out. If I do manage to move to London, no idea how I'd vote for the Mayoralty, Ken seems to be both great and awful at the same time. I doubt, however, that Mr Tuffrey will get a vote from me.
John Band is back. He stopped blogging just before I started, but I remember the discussion about why he had to, and the whole 'anonymity' thing. I'm glad I went with using my name openly, but it was a close call. Good to see you doing more than the occasional post at The Sharpener John, although that one is rather fine.
Oh, Boris on the House of Lords. He does go on a bit at times doesn't he? Interesting idea, not sure I like it, but all ideas are good as long as it's not "Tony choses them".
Also, welcome ContraTory to the blogroll; an example of the importance of going forth and commenting, most of the blogs I read regularly I've found through decent comments made by their authors elsewhere
Meh; by the time I finish that Israeli post they'll have had another election. Incidentally, anyone seen a decent write up of the Ukrainian results with an explanation as to voting system? I seem to be not finding one.
Paulie on an idiotic LibDem, Red Ken and the Standards Board for England (again). Note to Mr Tuffrey. Term limits are neither Liberal nor Democratic; if you don't like an incumbent, campaign to get him out. If I do manage to move to London, no idea how I'd vote for the Mayoralty, Ken seems to be both great and awful at the same time. I doubt, however, that Mr Tuffrey will get a vote from me.
John Band is back. He stopped blogging just before I started, but I remember the discussion about why he had to, and the whole 'anonymity' thing. I'm glad I went with using my name openly, but it was a close call. Good to see you doing more than the occasional post at The Sharpener John, although that one is rather fine.
Oh, Boris on the House of Lords. He does go on a bit at times doesn't he? Interesting idea, not sure I like it, but all ideas are good as long as it's not "Tony choses them".
Also, welcome ContraTory to the blogroll; an example of the importance of going forth and commenting, most of the blogs I read regularly I've found through decent comments made by their authors elsewhere
Meh; by the time I finish that Israeli post they'll have had another election. Incidentally, anyone seen a decent write up of the Ukrainian results with an explanation as to voting system? I seem to be not finding one.
Tag: Blogging
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Heroes, villains and ID
The bill got passed. We are all to be numbered and categorised. I will not submit. So, we have some heroes, some villains, and some dodgy characters. Heroes:
If you live in one of their constituencies, write to them and thank them? Especially the Labour MPs. Note to the Government. I agree with Bill Cash and Ian Paisley. Can you not see how wrong that is?
Villains:
Andrew isn't convinced that the Tories are as committed as Dave is saying. I hope that sensible Tories like him can put pressure on the leadership and MPs to keep them onboard. I think we'll all need to put pressure on them.
In the meantime, Longrider and me (elsewhere) are discussing when to renew your passport; you need to do it before Crapita get their hands on the NIR, which will be sometime in 2008, so best do it in 2007 just to be safe. As observed, you can do it at any time for any reason. Justin has more on the "compromise".
At the next General Election, at every Hustings, in every constituency up and down the country, we ask
Between now and then? Our best hope is that, like all other Government IT projects, especially those Capita get hold of, it'll all go horribly wrong.
Otherwise:
Labour:Source: Public Whip (via)
Diane Abbott (Hackney North & Stoke Newington), Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North), Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North), Lynne Jones (Birmingham, Selly Oak), John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington), Robert Wareing (Liverpool, West Derby).
Conservative:
Adam Afriyie (Windsor), Tony Baldry (Banbury), William Cash (Stone), Philip Hollobone (Kettering), Stewart Jackson (Peterborough), Brooks Newmark (Braintree), Grant Shapps (Welwyn Hatfield), Richard Shepherd (Aldridge-Brownhill)
Lib Dems: All of them
Democratic Unionist Party & SNP: From what I can see, all of them as well
and a few others.
If you live in one of their constituencies, write to them and thank them? Especially the Labour MPs. Note to the Government. I agree with Bill Cash and Ian Paisley. Can you not see how wrong that is?
Villains:
Crispin Blunt (Reigate), Peter Bone (Wellingborough), James Brokenshire (Hornchurch), John Butterfill (Bournemouth West), Quentin Davies (Grantham & Stamford), David Davis (Haltemprice & Howden), Philip Dunne (Ludlow), Tobias Ellwood (Bournemouth East), Michael Fabricant (Lichfield), Mark Field (Cities of London & Westminster), Edward Garnier (Harborough), Cheryl Gillan (Chesham & Amersham), Robert Goodwill (Scarborough & Whitby), John Hayes (South Holland & The Deepings), Greg Knight (East Yorkshire), Andrew Lansley (South Cambridgeshire), Patrick McLoughlin (West Derbyshire), Patrick Mercer (Newark), John Penrose (Weston-Super-Mare), Eric Pickles (Brentwood & Ongar), Laurence Robertson (Tewkesbury), Graham Stuart (Beverley & Holderness), Robert Syms (Poole), Andrew Turner (Isle of Wight)I expect Labour MPs to vote in favour. But the Shadow Home Secretary? Write to those guys and ask them what they think they're playing at?
All Conservative.
Andrew isn't convinced that the Tories are as committed as Dave is saying. I hope that sensible Tories like him can put pressure on the leadership and MPs to keep them onboard. I think we'll all need to put pressure on them.
In the meantime, Longrider and me (elsewhere) are discussing when to renew your passport; you need to do it before Crapita get their hands on the NIR, which will be sometime in 2008, so best do it in 2007 just to be safe. As observed, you can do it at any time for any reason. Justin has more on the "compromise".
At the next General Election, at every Hustings, in every constituency up and down the country, we ask
Will you vote to abolish the National Identity Register
If they don't say yes, we get them out. Regardless of party.Between now and then? Our best hope is that, like all other Government IT projects, especially those Capita get hold of, it'll all go horribly wrong.
Otherwise:
YOU WILL:
ATTEND an appointment to be photographed, have your fingerprints taken and iris scanned, or be fined up to £2500. Additional fines of up to £2500 may be levied each time you fail to comply until you submit to these procedures.
PROMPTLY INFORM the police or Home Office if you lose your card or it becomes defective, or face a fine of up to £1000. If you find someone else's card and do not immediately hand it in, you may have committed a criminal offence punishable by imprisonment for up to two years or a fine, or both.
PROMPTLY INFORM the National Identity Register of any change of address or face a fine of up to £1000 (you will supply evidence of your previous addresses, not just your current address).
PROMPTLY INFORM the National Identity Register of significant changes to your personal life or any errors they have made or face a fine of up to £1000. You may also be obliged to submit to being re-interviewed, re-photographed, re-fingerprinted and re-scanned, or face a fine.
Charles Clarke: Lying, bullying slug
I agree with Tim, it's time to Google Bomb the slug. Why?
Rachel:
Rachel:
My father and I are looking forward to meeting Mr Clarke in the ten minutes the Home Secretary has allocated us next week, to discuss the matter of a public inquiry into the 7 July bombings, something that I and many other survivors are still seeking.Of all the NuLab Cabinet, this one is the one that gets to me the most. There's just something about him. Oh, I know what it is. He's Charles Clarke.
Analysis of Israeli electoral system is in draft stages. It'll hopefully be up tomorrow, short version: their system of voting is possibly worse than ours
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
"Voluntary" passports: a compromise that isn't
So, how long before I need to renew my passport then?
The Lord have caved in with a compromise that makes it worse, not better. You'll still be stamped and categorised, they'll still put your data on a centralised "secure" register, but you can have the sop of believing that you don't need a card.
Central pledge required from all candidates at the next General Election:
Henry Porter at Comment is Free:
The Lord have caved in with a compromise that makes it worse, not better. You'll still be stamped and categorised, they'll still put your data on a centralised "secure" register, but you can have the sop of believing that you don't need a card.
Central pledge required from all candidates at the next General Election:
I will vote to abolish the National Identity Register
If they don't sign up to it, campaign against them. Regardless of party affiliation. I refuse to be 'registered'.Henry Porter at Comment is Free:
The failure to register will be punished by a maximum fine of £2,500. The failure to apply in a manner prescribed (whatever that means) to renew your ID, or to inform the national identity register of a change of your details, or to surrender the ID card, or to notify the register of an invalid card, will all incur a maximum fine of £1,000.Read that through again. £2,500 fine if you forget to tell them you've changed your details?
£2,500 fine?
As someone who perpetually forgets to file paperwork, whose drivers licence is still the one I was first issued 13 years ago registered at my parents address (perfectly legally I add), this scares the shit out of me. Why do they need a £2,500 fine for what they're selling as an 'entitlement' card?The Lords have fallen for it. After a heroic, drawn-out defence they've been conned into believing it's the cards, rather than the database that backs up the cards, that's the problem.
- Bookdrunk on Burnham:
To describe any part of the ID card mess as 'absolutely clear' is either laughably delusional or grossly dishonest. The problem with Burnham is that it's hard to decide which applies.
More able to control access to my identity? What is this rubbish? How does an identity database protect my fingerprints, date of birth, iris pattern etc. etc. from being stolen? Doesn't it store all of those things in one handy central place? How does this stop my credit card or name being used? Answer: it doesn't and it won't.
Most Conservatives abstained, but 24 of them including their Home Affairs front bench spokesmen David Davis, Edward Garnier and Patrick Mercer voted with the Labour Government. Only 8 Conservatives voted against the motion with the Liberal Democrats.
It seems that David Cameron's NuTories cannot be trusted on civil liberties issues any more than Michael Howard's Tories could be.
- Porter (again):
People are beginning to see that ID cards are not being introduced so that they can identify themselves but rather so that the government can identify them and keep track of every important transaction in their lives.
We have to get them out of office.
They're a corrupt bunch of liars as well.Saturday, March 25, 2006
Blair is destroying democratic principles
Curious Hamster:
The system may encourage dodgy politics, it may push towards managerial centralism, but that's not a reason to accept it.
All politicians lie. Of course they do. So we caught one at it in a fairly enormous way? What's the problem? Why are you shocked? Get over it.That's right at the end, but read the whole post; the very idea that we should just accept the idea that they're all the same, that they all lie. It's just wrong.
I. Will. Not. And neither should anyone who professes to care about democracy.
The system may encourage dodgy politics, it may push towards managerial centralism, but that's not a reason to accept it.
Friday, March 24, 2006
Frenchman speaks English shock
Can we give this man a medal or something?:
Mr Chirac led three senior ministers out of the talks when Ernest-Antoine Seillière, the French head of the European employers' group Unice, abandoned his mother tongue on the ground that English is "the language of business".Chirac's a crook who never had the support of the French electorate. anyone that winds him up deserves praise, especially if they're honest about international business conditions.
Chicken Yoghurt
Has moved.
He's showing of his WordPress fu with a shiny new domain and everything. I'm still working on mine, amongst other things. Not really sure why I'm posting this really, anyone reading this blog that isn't reading Justin already really isn't paying attention; he's actually good at this blogging lark...
He's showing of his WordPress fu with a shiny new domain and everything. I'm still working on mine, amongst other things. Not really sure why I'm posting this really, anyone reading this blog that isn't reading Justin already really isn't paying attention; he's actually good at this blogging lark...
Technorati tags: blogging
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