Wednesday, July 27, 2005
My Mac Is Dead!
My Powerbook died today. I don't want to say anything except this post is coming from a Windozy computer, and I hate it, and I'm not talking to anyone.
Hmph and good night.
Hmph and good night.
Clinton's Dilemma.
Not easy for any Dad. When a man of substance offers a dowry of forty goats and twenty cows for your daughter, what do you do? It's a good offer - should you accept immediately in case the suitor changes his mind, or do you hold out for an even better deal?
Hell! This guy seems a bit keen on the wife too - he might take both of them for a few extra cows and maybe some hens.
As it happens, Bill, I've got a crazy sheepdog here, and a psycho black and white cat that THINKS he's a dog.......
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An amusing wee piece from Richard Lloyd Parry on the problems FACED by the Japanese drunk.
And a great idea for teachers and parents everywhere. Could it catch on here?
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After the events in London over the past few days, this LINK to The D-Squared Digest One Minute MBA Part 2: Managing the Risk of Getting Killed. Thanks to Daniel at Crooked Timber
Hell! This guy seems a bit keen on the wife too - he might take both of them for a few extra cows and maybe some hens.
As it happens, Bill, I've got a crazy sheepdog here, and a psycho black and white cat that THINKS he's a dog.......
___________________________
An amusing wee piece from Richard Lloyd Parry on the problems FACED by the Japanese drunk.
And a great idea for teachers and parents everywhere. Could it catch on here?
___________________________
After the events in London over the past few days, this LINK to The D-Squared Digest One Minute MBA Part 2: Managing the Risk of Getting Killed. Thanks to Daniel at Crooked Timber
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Bulgarian Jail Time Crime.
Fifteen years in a Bulgarian jail for a crime he didn't commit. What a dreadful situation for anyone to find themselves in. I can't begin to think what Michael Shields is going through tonite.
And what is Graham Sankey thinking. He has admitted responsibility for the assault on a Bulgarian barman. What next for him now?
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And what is Graham Sankey thinking. He has admitted responsibility for the assault on a Bulgarian barman. What next for him now?
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Monday, July 25, 2005
A Cringe-Making Admission From Holyrood.
Unsurprisingly, security at Holyrood, the Scottish Parliament, has been stepped up because of the terrorist alert. No more than one would expect in the circumstances.
While most of us in Scotland are already aware that our politicians are a pretty useless, dumb lot, even I would have thought they had enough wit to know if someone sidled up to them and stuck a bomb in their pocket.
Apparently I underestimated the brainless clowns. They are an embarrassment to us all.
While most of us in Scotland are already aware that our politicians are a pretty useless, dumb lot, even I would have thought they had enough wit to know if someone sidled up to them and stuck a bomb in their pocket.
Apparently I underestimated the brainless clowns. They are an embarrassment to us all.
Why Did Jean Charles de Menezes Run?
Once, many moons ago, I was in London with a friend, walking along a pavement close to Piccadilly Circus, when we were suddenly grabbed and hustled roughly into a doorway by two men. It happened very suddenly, we were terrified and, as one of the men grabbed my friends bag, ripping it out of her hand, I was convinced we were being mugged, and probably about to be hurt.
If an escape route had been available, we would have taken it, but we were trapped in the confined space of the doorway, with one of the men holding us as the other started rifling through the handbag. Only at this point did one of the men, who were both aggressive and scruffily dressed, identify themselves as being police officers, verbally, with no attempt at any time to produce a warrant card.
They muttered that they had a report of some incident, and that we fitted the description they had, went through my pockets, then handed back the bag, told us we could go, and disappeared. All this probably took less than a minute.
These guys didn't look like cops, they didn't act like cops are supposed to act, they didn't identify themselves before manhandling us. Had we had the opportunity we most certainly would have run, and possibly lashed out. These tossers, of course, were unarmed, but frightened us badly.
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So why did poor Jean Charles de Menezes, a Brazilian electrician with no connection to terrorists, run? He was not being pursued by uniformed cops. Would the outcome have been different if they had been in uniform? Was a warning given, did he hear it? If it was given did he understand it, and when was it given? What was he thinking was happening? We will never know that, of course.
Frankly, it is not difficult to imagine several more scenarios where a person might not stop, none of which justify a summary execution.
I understand the dreadful position police are faced with in situations like the one in London at this time. Certainly I would not wish to be in their shoes, and would not dare predict what my reaction would be with a gun in my hand and a life or death decision to make within a millisecond. My way of making important choices is to go and have a cup of tea - or three.
But already the ranks are closing, with politicians, the great and the good and the police trotting out the usual platitudes, while warning us other innocents are likely to die at the hands of the police. Given the rather poor record of policemen with guns, even in more peaceful times, this is rather stating the obvious. Also obvious is the fact that another blunder like this will wreck relations with some sections of our society, while giving every terrorist out there the biggest laugh of their lives while they sit back, feet up, watching Police Constable Plod doing their job for them.
An interesting article in the Sunday Times on the shooting. Also here, and here, and here.
And here Donald Macintyre says something about the Israeli policy on handling suicide bombers. The British police, of course, studied their methods.
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UPDATE at 12.59pm: Just announced, the reason he ran. I certainly would not have thought of this scenario, and it makes the whole episode no more acceptable and no less tragic.
If an escape route had been available, we would have taken it, but we were trapped in the confined space of the doorway, with one of the men holding us as the other started rifling through the handbag. Only at this point did one of the men, who were both aggressive and scruffily dressed, identify themselves as being police officers, verbally, with no attempt at any time to produce a warrant card.
They muttered that they had a report of some incident, and that we fitted the description they had, went through my pockets, then handed back the bag, told us we could go, and disappeared. All this probably took less than a minute.
These guys didn't look like cops, they didn't act like cops are supposed to act, they didn't identify themselves before manhandling us. Had we had the opportunity we most certainly would have run, and possibly lashed out. These tossers, of course, were unarmed, but frightened us badly.
___________________________
So why did poor Jean Charles de Menezes, a Brazilian electrician with no connection to terrorists, run? He was not being pursued by uniformed cops. Would the outcome have been different if they had been in uniform? Was a warning given, did he hear it? If it was given did he understand it, and when was it given? What was he thinking was happening? We will never know that, of course.
Frankly, it is not difficult to imagine several more scenarios where a person might not stop, none of which justify a summary execution.
I understand the dreadful position police are faced with in situations like the one in London at this time. Certainly I would not wish to be in their shoes, and would not dare predict what my reaction would be with a gun in my hand and a life or death decision to make within a millisecond. My way of making important choices is to go and have a cup of tea - or three.
But already the ranks are closing, with politicians, the great and the good and the police trotting out the usual platitudes, while warning us other innocents are likely to die at the hands of the police. Given the rather poor record of policemen with guns, even in more peaceful times, this is rather stating the obvious. Also obvious is the fact that another blunder like this will wreck relations with some sections of our society, while giving every terrorist out there the biggest laugh of their lives while they sit back, feet up, watching Police Constable Plod doing their job for them.
An interesting article in the Sunday Times on the shooting. Also here, and here, and here.
And here Donald Macintyre says something about the Israeli policy on handling suicide bombers. The British police, of course, studied their methods.
___________________________
UPDATE at 12.59pm: Just announced, the reason he ran. I certainly would not have thought of this scenario, and it makes the whole episode no more acceptable and no less tragic.
The Albatross And The Mouse.
A particularly lurid example of the consequences of man interfering with nature, in this case unintentionally. The mooring of seal hunting ships in the 19th century threatening the extinction of a species in the 21st century.
Sunday, July 24, 2005
What Kaspy Did.
The Mongrel usually takes Kaspy the Collie with her to work, and leaves her in the estate car. She takes her for a wee walk during lunch and on breaks. This has been happening for three months or so (Kaspy is nearly six months old now) and has settled into a relatively uneventful routine. Kaspy goes for her walks, makes friends with tourists, collects pine cones and sticks, has a pee, sniffs around and does all the things a dog does.
Until the other day. Lunchtime, the weather hot and sunny, and Kaspy had been for her walk. The Mongrel had put her back into the car, and just as she started to close the tailgate, Kaspy spotted a family of tourists, decided she wanted to make friends with them, and shot out of the back of the car like a Cruise missile. She charged over to the tourists - Mum and Dad and some young children - who were, unfortunately, sitting on the ground having a picnic. Even more unfortunately, the centerpiece of the picnic was a large bowl of tuna and pasta salad.
Kaspy, like your average deadly Cruise, didn't miss. Straight into the salad bowl and out the other side, the tuna and the pasta and the mayonnaise and whatever else was in the damned bowl exploding far and wide, covering the family, the rest of the picnic, Kaspy, and the Mongrel who, of course, was in hot pursuit of the bloody dog.
And I wasn't there with the camera. Thank God. Even I felt embarrassed about it when the Mongrel got home and told me about it (still smelling strongly of tuna) and I was twenty miles from the incident. Apparently Mum and Dad took it quite well, and declined the Mongrels offer to get them some more food. The kids were delighted, and thought Kaspy, despite her covering of fish, was the greatest. It was probably the best adventure they had on their trip to the Highlands.
Collie's have fireworks for brainzzz.
Saturday, July 23, 2005
The Trouble With Anon.
I appreciate it when people comment on this weblog. My gripe is that too many don't. I try to answer every comment, because if someone has taken the trouble to say something to me, it's worth responding.
Yesterday, however, after posting a piece about a man being shot on the London underground, and Radio Five, I got three comments within six minutes from anonymous readers, and another one about an hour later.
I find anonymous comments interesting. They are all remarkably similar, in that they always express views that the writer seems not to want attributed to themselves. Why? Because they know within themselves that the opinions they hold are unacceptable to intelligent, right minded people? If so, are they not sure enough of these opinions to stand up for them? Do yesterdays Anon's know that they are - in this case I will stop short of calling them racist, but.......
Anon invariably has had a sense of humour bypass, and takes himself too seriously. In this case he takes his nationalism (and I use the word nationalism advisedly, rather than patriotism) too seriously. And his cricket, which is one of the few ways he thinks he can show his Englishness while, to prove his superiority, he is forced to invoke Napoleon, Hitler, the IRA, the Spanish Armada and even 1066 and all that.
And Anon number 4 in yesterdays piece, when he did try to crack a (tasteless) joke, should now be left feeling acutely embarrassed after the events of today. Yes, I said I didn't care about a suicide bomber being shot as such, but was concerned about what was happening to ordinary people who get caught up in events. I do care about an innocent man being shot, which is exactly what has happened. I suspect Anon thinks they're all the same anyway, if they are not English (read that as white).
But when it all comes down to it, Anon wouldn't have coped too well alongside the real Englishmen and women, and the Scots, Irish and Welsh men and women who fought Hitler, and the IRA. And he wouldn't cope alongside the people of all these parts of the UK who are now involved in fighting the war on terror, because Anon is a coward who dare not even speak his name.
Yesterday, however, after posting a piece about a man being shot on the London underground, and Radio Five, I got three comments within six minutes from anonymous readers, and another one about an hour later.
I find anonymous comments interesting. They are all remarkably similar, in that they always express views that the writer seems not to want attributed to themselves. Why? Because they know within themselves that the opinions they hold are unacceptable to intelligent, right minded people? If so, are they not sure enough of these opinions to stand up for them? Do yesterdays Anon's know that they are - in this case I will stop short of calling them racist, but.......
Anon invariably has had a sense of humour bypass, and takes himself too seriously. In this case he takes his nationalism (and I use the word nationalism advisedly, rather than patriotism) too seriously. And his cricket, which is one of the few ways he thinks he can show his Englishness while, to prove his superiority, he is forced to invoke Napoleon, Hitler, the IRA, the Spanish Armada and even 1066 and all that.
And Anon number 4 in yesterdays piece, when he did try to crack a (tasteless) joke, should now be left feeling acutely embarrassed after the events of today. Yes, I said I didn't care about a suicide bomber being shot as such, but was concerned about what was happening to ordinary people who get caught up in events. I do care about an innocent man being shot, which is exactly what has happened. I suspect Anon thinks they're all the same anyway, if they are not English (read that as white).
But when it all comes down to it, Anon wouldn't have coped too well alongside the real Englishmen and women, and the Scots, Irish and Welsh men and women who fought Hitler, and the IRA. And he wouldn't cope alongside the people of all these parts of the UK who are now involved in fighting the war on terror, because Anon is a coward who dare not even speak his name.
The Wee Gig.
Goodbye Glenbogle.
The last filming of Monarch of the Glen has been completed. They're all going back to wherever they came from, for good. Best news I've had this week.
Lloyd Owen, who plays the Laird of Glenbogle, mutters admiringly about something called Highland time. Maybe he has time, and no doubt he has the money for such drivel, but I don't. I want to get where I'm going without being held up behind gawping tourists driving along the road at 30 mph trying to get a glimpse of Ardverikie, where the series takes place. The A86 which runs by there is one of Scotland's most dangerous roads anyway, without rolling round a blind bend to be confronted by a stationary car, in the middle of the extremely narrow road, with a snapshot camera sticking out the window.
Lloyd Owen, who plays the Laird of Glenbogle, mutters admiringly about something called Highland time. Maybe he has time, and no doubt he has the money for such drivel, but I don't. I want to get where I'm going without being held up behind gawping tourists driving along the road at 30 mph trying to get a glimpse of Ardverikie, where the series takes place. The A86 which runs by there is one of Scotland's most dangerous roads anyway, without rolling round a blind bend to be confronted by a stationary car, in the middle of the extremely narrow road, with a snapshot camera sticking out the window.
Friday, July 22, 2005
Inverness Sucks - And The Traders Suck Too.
If Inverness becomes a ghost town, as some independent traders are predicting, then there are only one set of people to blame. The independent traders themselves. If small businesses want to survive, they have to sell goods customers want, and they have to give excellent, friendly service - with a great big smile, and without overcharging.
The city is among the fastest growing in the UK only because it has been left so far behind until recently. Now, as it begins to get the retail outlets most average towns in Scotland have had for years, local shops need to compete with the big national operators. Good. If they can't drag themselves into the 21st century and start working to bring their businesses, and staff, up to scratch, then I am delighted to see them gone. If they don't have the gumption, the interest or the creativity to change their businesses to cater for customers needs, then goodbye, good riddance.
Inverness will not become a ghost town, and only the traders who can't cope with changing their outdated habits and practices will be ghosts. And relying on the Highland planners promised £6m facelift for the town will not save them. The town is a dump. Drab, dirty and run down, £6m will only scratch the surface, and cannot force people into shops they don't want to use.
The city is among the fastest growing in the UK only because it has been left so far behind until recently. Now, as it begins to get the retail outlets most average towns in Scotland have had for years, local shops need to compete with the big national operators. Good. If they can't drag themselves into the 21st century and start working to bring their businesses, and staff, up to scratch, then I am delighted to see them gone. If they don't have the gumption, the interest or the creativity to change their businesses to cater for customers needs, then goodbye, good riddance.
Inverness will not become a ghost town, and only the traders who can't cope with changing their outdated habits and practices will be ghosts. And relying on the Highland planners promised £6m facelift for the town will not save them. The town is a dump. Drab, dirty and run down, £6m will only scratch the surface, and cannot force people into shops they don't want to use.
London Tube Shooting - Don't Forget The Cricket.
A grim time in London. Just hearing on news that a man has been shot by police at Stockwell tube station.
An eyewitness reports seeing armed police pursue a man onto a train, pushing him to the floor and then shooting him at least five times at close range, killing him.
London is in chaos but, fortunately for all of us, BBC Radio Five Live have got their priorities right and are breaking off coverage of this incident to update the cricket scores at Lords, where England are playing Australia.
Is there really anyone out there who cares about a cricket match with these terrible events taking place?
An eyewitness reports seeing armed police pursue a man onto a train, pushing him to the floor and then shooting him at least five times at close range, killing him.
London is in chaos but, fortunately for all of us, BBC Radio Five Live have got their priorities right and are breaking off coverage of this incident to update the cricket scores at Lords, where England are playing Australia.
Is there really anyone out there who cares about a cricket match with these terrible events taking place?
Thursday, July 21, 2005
Remember What The Dormouse Said - Feed Your Head.
The Dormouse, Alice in Wonderland.
Was Lewis Carroll feeding his head?
(Colcam.Image)
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The magic mushroom has now been banned in the UK, and will take it's place along heroin and crack cocaine as a class A drug.
The government are accused of overkill through sheer ignorance, being seen to do something about drugs. A Scottish drugs advice service described the move as "nuts". I rather think PC Plod would be better employed with doing slightly more important things, like stopping guys with rucksacks blowing up tube trains and buses.
Are we to see squads of policemen in the middle of nowhere staking out fields, and chasing hippies around the cow pats?
A logical follow-up to this law by a government intent on telling all of us what is bad for us, and legislating to back up their views, would be a ban on Alice in Wonderland in case it should lead us all down the rocky road to drug addiction, or even enjoying ourselves. Or something to make it illegal to put two and two together in case we all discover that all our politicians live in a power induced fantasy trip of their own.
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The Mongrel used to hand paint these little bronze figures - the dormouse is just over half an inch tall. She used to do them when she was high as a kite - on Nescafe.
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Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Dream Gardens.
The gardens around Holyrood have now been opened to the public
Our Scottish Parliament building has been much criticised because of it's £431m construction cost, and while it may have been a touch expensive compared to the original estimates, it is a beautiful work of architectural art, and should be a source of pride to Scottish people. It is not the building itself that represents bad value for our money, but the set of mediocre politicians that presently occupy the place.
Planting wild flowers, trees such as rowans, oaks and pine, and native grasses which will only be cut in the autumn after the flowers have seeded, is a lovely idea. Once the gardens mature over a few years this should be one of the prettiest spots in Edinburgh.
Our Scottish Parliament building has been much criticised because of it's £431m construction cost, and while it may have been a touch expensive compared to the original estimates, it is a beautiful work of architectural art, and should be a source of pride to Scottish people. It is not the building itself that represents bad value for our money, but the set of mediocre politicians that presently occupy the place.
Planting wild flowers, trees such as rowans, oaks and pine, and native grasses which will only be cut in the autumn after the flowers have seeded, is a lovely idea. Once the gardens mature over a few years this should be one of the prettiest spots in Edinburgh.
Monday, July 18, 2005
Did You?
Sunday, July 17, 2005
Bugging Mars.
Not content with causing massive pollution on Earth while denying global warming exists, the Americans are following up by polluting Mars. Maybe they think it's a way of spreading democracy.......
Highland Hate Mail?
The Scottish Muslim leader who has called for the prosecution of a former police commander and another woman who is the fund-raising organiser for the Highland Hospice is right to demand strong action over the sending of e-mails suggesting that the Koran instructed Muslims to kill non-believers.
The excuses trotted out by these people are not enough on their own, and a thorough police investigation should take place, urgently. I presume the statement from a Northern Constabulary spokesman saying they will be looking into the matter means investigate thoroughly.
Whether these e-mails were sent for the wrong reasons, or whether the pair involved are just plain stupid, remains to be seen. Certainly I have had to listen to more racist language and views in the Highlands than I care to mention, and perhaps it is time that some people here are made to realise our remoteness does not mean we are immune from the laws that are sometimes thought of as only being for those "out there" in civilisation.
This LINK to the Editorial Comment from the Inverness Courier, which is hardly the Washington Post, and leaves me pondering on the extent of their "investigations".
The excuses trotted out by these people are not enough on their own, and a thorough police investigation should take place, urgently. I presume the statement from a Northern Constabulary spokesman saying they will be looking into the matter means investigate thoroughly.
Whether these e-mails were sent for the wrong reasons, or whether the pair involved are just plain stupid, remains to be seen. Certainly I have had to listen to more racist language and views in the Highlands than I care to mention, and perhaps it is time that some people here are made to realise our remoteness does not mean we are immune from the laws that are sometimes thought of as only being for those "out there" in civilisation.
This LINK to the Editorial Comment from the Inverness Courier, which is hardly the Washington Post, and leaves me pondering on the extent of their "investigations".
Cops Will Be Cops.
Wow, what hero's - or should that read racist, thick as a plank pigs. Why didn't they just take the Israeli line and shoot the kid?
Galloway Versus Graffy.
BBC Radio 4s Any Questions programme, where members of an audience ask the panel for their views on topical subjects, was broadcast from Bexley in Kent this weekend. Jonathan Dimbleby was in the chair, and the guest panel consisted of Frank Field, Labour MP, Oliver Letwin, Conservative MP, George Galloway, Respect Party MP, and Professor Colleen Graffy, the US law lecturer and former chair of Republicans Abroad.
The questions, unsurprisingly, were mostly concerning the suicide bombings in London and, in my opinion, only one member of the panel had anything remotely useful or new to say on the subject - George Galloway. At this point I should state that I can't stand the man, and have previously made my views on him clear in this weblog, but in this case I can only say he was excellent. His comments throughout were intelligent and knowledgeable, and his grasp of the problems faced far outshone the two mainstream politicians, who seemed only to be capable of the same old cliches, the same meaningless posturing, with no useful ideas or answers whatsoever.
With the pro-Bush Professor Colleen Graffy on the panel, it was only a couple of minutes before George went about bursting her bubble. I quote only the last sentence of Graffy's answer to a question on whether terrorists should be excommunicated by their religious leaders, before George intervened to correct her.
Graffy: ......."Can we change the messages that are given to young people - if, if you've never seen it before I encourage you to check out memory.org that's M E M R I which is translations of Arab newspapers wh".......
Galloway: "It's an Israeli, Israeli organisation".
Graffy: "Uh well it - it's a trans - it, it's" -
Galloway: "It's an Israeli organisation".
(Audience applause)
Graffy: "Middle East Media Research"............(Laughter from audience) "You, you can, you can check it out yourself it is translations of Arabic progr".......
Galloway: "It's an Israeli translation".
Graffy: "And you will see from Arabic into English and you'll hear that the head of the London Centre for Islamic History when the attacks firdt happened said that he questioned whether it was done by the intelligence agency of another western country hostile to Britain, some Zionist Americ ??????? to overshadow the G8 summit but said if it was indeed al Quaeda it was a great victory for it. This was not from someone in - eh - Saudi Arabia this is from - London".......
Galloway: "According to the Israelis".
(Loud Laughter)
Graffy: "No - according - from a translation.......that's".......
Galloway: "It's an Israeli website why don't you be honest with people"?
Graffy: "Why don't you be honest that it is a translation from al Jazeera an".......
And there, unfortunately, Jonathan Dimbleby stepped in and quickly shut them both down in order to move on.
I quote this, without even attempting to keep it in context, only because it was extremely amusing, and because I find the views of Colleen Graffy, who argues that what she describes as "group think", a mindset she thinks has taken hold of Britain, has imprisoned us all here into thinking George Bush is bad.
Arrogant Bitch. She may be a British citizen, despite the accent, but she doesn't know the British people and, despite (presumably) living over here and having the opportunity to try to understand other points of view, is obviously as brainwashed into the Bush doctrine as a suicide bomber is into trying to blow her off the face of the earth.
You can listen to Any Questions (15-07-05) HERE
The questions, unsurprisingly, were mostly concerning the suicide bombings in London and, in my opinion, only one member of the panel had anything remotely useful or new to say on the subject - George Galloway. At this point I should state that I can't stand the man, and have previously made my views on him clear in this weblog, but in this case I can only say he was excellent. His comments throughout were intelligent and knowledgeable, and his grasp of the problems faced far outshone the two mainstream politicians, who seemed only to be capable of the same old cliches, the same meaningless posturing, with no useful ideas or answers whatsoever.
With the pro-Bush Professor Colleen Graffy on the panel, it was only a couple of minutes before George went about bursting her bubble. I quote only the last sentence of Graffy's answer to a question on whether terrorists should be excommunicated by their religious leaders, before George intervened to correct her.
Graffy: ......."Can we change the messages that are given to young people - if, if you've never seen it before I encourage you to check out memory.org that's M E M R I which is translations of Arab newspapers wh".......
Galloway: "It's an Israeli, Israeli organisation".
Graffy: "Uh well it - it's a trans - it, it's" -
Galloway: "It's an Israeli organisation".
(Audience applause)
Graffy: "Middle East Media Research"............(Laughter from audience) "You, you can, you can check it out yourself it is translations of Arabic progr".......
Galloway: "It's an Israeli translation".
Graffy: "And you will see from Arabic into English and you'll hear that the head of the London Centre for Islamic History when the attacks firdt happened said that he questioned whether it was done by the intelligence agency of another western country hostile to Britain, some Zionist Americ ??????? to overshadow the G8 summit but said if it was indeed al Quaeda it was a great victory for it. This was not from someone in - eh - Saudi Arabia this is from - London".......
Galloway: "According to the Israelis".
(Loud Laughter)
Graffy: "No - according - from a translation.......that's".......
Galloway: "It's an Israeli website why don't you be honest with people"?
Graffy: "Why don't you be honest that it is a translation from al Jazeera an".......
And there, unfortunately, Jonathan Dimbleby stepped in and quickly shut them both down in order to move on.
I quote this, without even attempting to keep it in context, only because it was extremely amusing, and because I find the views of Colleen Graffy, who argues that what she describes as "group think", a mindset she thinks has taken hold of Britain, has imprisoned us all here into thinking George Bush is bad.
Arrogant Bitch. She may be a British citizen, despite the accent, but she doesn't know the British people and, despite (presumably) living over here and having the opportunity to try to understand other points of view, is obviously as brainwashed into the Bush doctrine as a suicide bomber is into trying to blow her off the face of the earth.
You can listen to Any Questions (15-07-05) HERE
Saturday, July 16, 2005
Stay Out, You're Too Poor.
The Homeless World Cup takes place in Edinburgh from the 20th to the 24th July. Unfortunately the Foreign Office has refused visas for teams from Africa who were to take part - because they are poor.
Rightly, the organisers question the government's pledges on poverty in Africa made at the G8 summit.
The FO (the Fuck Off you're too poor office?) say the players cannot provide proof that they will leave the country after the games. Big deal. For years now we haven't had a clue who is in and who is out of the bloody place anyway.
Rightly, the organisers question the government's pledges on poverty in Africa made at the G8 summit.
The FO (the Fuck Off you're too poor office?) say the players cannot provide proof that they will leave the country after the games. Big deal. For years now we haven't had a clue who is in and who is out of the bloody place anyway.
Friday, July 15, 2005
Glasgow Escapes.
Over 41,000 people took off on holiday today from Glasgow Airport at the start of the "Glasgow fair", or holiday fortnight. This has been the busiest day in the airports 39 year history.
Seems like the folks of that city have decided, rightly, that going abroad is better value than taking their holidays in Scotland.
Seems like the folks of that city have decided, rightly, that going abroad is better value than taking their holidays in Scotland.
Let's Have Windmills, Not Scottish National Heritage.
Scottish National Heritage and the John Muir Trust want to enhance and protect wild land in Scotland. They have drawn up an action plan, concerned that things like forestry, deer, sheep and wind farms are spoiling areas of natural beauty.
What are they going to do? Put local sheep farmers out of business and send them all to work as waiters in tourist hotels? Demand that estate owners slaughter the wild red deer that roam the mountains, or fence them all in? Eight foot high deer fences look VERY natural!
These people put tourists and greed before peoples ways of life.
Ben nevis is owned and managed by the John Muir Trust. If their aims are so high and mighty, are they going to bulldoze the Nevis Centre, a disgraceful blot on the mountain, and control the number of visitors tramping and mountainbiking the place to a scarred mess? Not a hope, I guarantee. Money is far more important to these self proclaimed "environmentalists" than any genuine concern about the environment.
Wind farms? Many locals in the areas where they are planned have no objection to them, and see the advantages to the environment and the local economy, which is far too reliant on the tourist industry. The campaigns against them are invariably run by incomers, who have scant regard for local folks, and are very keen only on protecting their own expensive "ghettoes". The charities or organizations who object, supposedly concerned with the well-being of wildlife, are often more interested in their own political or financial agendas.
Personally, I would be perfectly happy to see huge wind farms around the Highlands. The more the merrier. This place is blighted with more otherwise useless land than any other part of the UK, and it's a sensible way to utilize much of it. Anyway, I think windmills, especially lots of them, look rather impressive.
A lot better than this.
With fuel prices fast going the way here that they have in the Western Isles, the tourist industry is going to take a huge knock one of these days. Visitors may be daft enough at the moment to fork out these ridiculous prices to trail around a few pot-holed roads looking for outlets which then rob them with specially inflated prices, but they will catch on eventually, and when they do, they won't come back.
Then they'll be begging for windmills.
What are they going to do? Put local sheep farmers out of business and send them all to work as waiters in tourist hotels? Demand that estate owners slaughter the wild red deer that roam the mountains, or fence them all in? Eight foot high deer fences look VERY natural!
These people put tourists and greed before peoples ways of life.
Ben nevis is owned and managed by the John Muir Trust. If their aims are so high and mighty, are they going to bulldoze the Nevis Centre, a disgraceful blot on the mountain, and control the number of visitors tramping and mountainbiking the place to a scarred mess? Not a hope, I guarantee. Money is far more important to these self proclaimed "environmentalists" than any genuine concern about the environment.
Wind farms? Many locals in the areas where they are planned have no objection to them, and see the advantages to the environment and the local economy, which is far too reliant on the tourist industry. The campaigns against them are invariably run by incomers, who have scant regard for local folks, and are very keen only on protecting their own expensive "ghettoes". The charities or organizations who object, supposedly concerned with the well-being of wildlife, are often more interested in their own political or financial agendas.
Personally, I would be perfectly happy to see huge wind farms around the Highlands. The more the merrier. This place is blighted with more otherwise useless land than any other part of the UK, and it's a sensible way to utilize much of it. Anyway, I think windmills, especially lots of them, look rather impressive.
A lot better than this.
With fuel prices fast going the way here that they have in the Western Isles, the tourist industry is going to take a huge knock one of these days. Visitors may be daft enough at the moment to fork out these ridiculous prices to trail around a few pot-holed roads looking for outlets which then rob them with specially inflated prices, but they will catch on eventually, and when they do, they won't come back.
Then they'll be begging for windmills.
Silence.......
Thursday, July 14, 2005
Wacky Motor Madness.
Now here's a really bright idea. Robotic, driverless cars . We can all stay at home and let our cars pollute the planet to death, then say it wasn't us, it was the Hummer, or the Merc. We asked it to stay at home but you know what automobiles are like these days, just wont do a thing you tell them, mind of their own. Wasn't like that when I was a boy, cars were well behaved, took advice from their owners, had a bit of respect.
On second thoughts, when I think of being out on our local roads on the motor bike, stuck behind a tourist in a Nissan Micra trying to negotiate simple bends at 30 miles per hour and slamming on the brakes every time a vehicle comes toward them, and literally mounting the verge if they encounter an oncoming truck. When I consider the state of nerves I find myself in just seeing their antics and waiting for a disaster to take place in front of my eyes...............perhaps an exception could be made. A driverless Micra would do far better on its own than one driven by the type of person who seems to buy the horrid little thing, and would even manage more than 35 miles per hour on the straight. The owner could spend his or her holidays at home, saving large amounts of money by not getting ripped off for everything from a sandwich to the obligatory fluffy Loch Ness Monster imported from China.
Sadly, I should imagine the main reason for research into robot vehicles is more aimed at the military potential. President Bush could really do wonders spreading "democracy" in oil rich Arab countries without the prospect of too many body bags returning home. Innocent women and children wiped out? Sorry, not us, weren't even there, it was the Hummer. Friendly fire casualties? Oops, sorry, not us, it was the battle tank - it caught a virus.
On second thoughts, when I think of being out on our local roads on the motor bike, stuck behind a tourist in a Nissan Micra trying to negotiate simple bends at 30 miles per hour and slamming on the brakes every time a vehicle comes toward them, and literally mounting the verge if they encounter an oncoming truck. When I consider the state of nerves I find myself in just seeing their antics and waiting for a disaster to take place in front of my eyes...............perhaps an exception could be made. A driverless Micra would do far better on its own than one driven by the type of person who seems to buy the horrid little thing, and would even manage more than 35 miles per hour on the straight. The owner could spend his or her holidays at home, saving large amounts of money by not getting ripped off for everything from a sandwich to the obligatory fluffy Loch Ness Monster imported from China.
Sadly, I should imagine the main reason for research into robot vehicles is more aimed at the military potential. President Bush could really do wonders spreading "democracy" in oil rich Arab countries without the prospect of too many body bags returning home. Innocent women and children wiped out? Sorry, not us, weren't even there, it was the Hummer. Friendly fire casualties? Oops, sorry, not us, it was the battle tank - it caught a virus.
Glasgow Parade Trouble.
The religious bigots have been out in Glasgow. The great majority of people in Scotland don't want this sort of sectarianism on display. I have seen it in Belfast, and I cannot understand why marches like this are tolerated here.
This picture is of an Orange march in East Belfast a couple of years ago. The band immediately in front of our car is from Glasgow, over especially to march on the twelfth of July. We were unfortunate enough to get caught up in this particular one, and just had to crawl along behind them at walking pace for miles.
Not long after this the road was blocked, mainly by children and teenagers, backed up by a few hard men. I never was able to grasp the mentality of that, considering that in this area the only people they were stopping moving around were members of their own community.
This picture is of an Orange march in East Belfast a couple of years ago. The band immediately in front of our car is from Glasgow, over especially to march on the twelfth of July. We were unfortunate enough to get caught up in this particular one, and just had to crawl along behind them at walking pace for miles.
Not long after this the road was blocked, mainly by children and teenagers, backed up by a few hard men. I never was able to grasp the mentality of that, considering that in this area the only people they were stopping moving around were members of their own community.
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Pablo, Cover Your Ears.
The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art in Edinburgh has unveiled a Picasso etching, Weeping Woman. I love the work of Picasso, especially his drawings and etchings, so this is a must-see.
Meanwhile, in Inverness, the cultural highlight of the century takes place at the end of this month when the Inverness Fiddlers have a festival. I can hardly wait. The sweet sound of screaming fiddles competing with the wail of buskers bagpipes promises a musical feast comparable with the antics of two tomcats fighting for the favours of the local pussycat with the long eyelashes and tantalising tail.
Although I live some fifty miles west of the offending noise, this would be the day to visit the Weeping Woman in Edinburgh, just in case the wind is from the east and I can hear the "Inverness Culture" from here.
Meanwhile, in Inverness, the cultural highlight of the century takes place at the end of this month when the Inverness Fiddlers have a festival. I can hardly wait. The sweet sound of screaming fiddles competing with the wail of buskers bagpipes promises a musical feast comparable with the antics of two tomcats fighting for the favours of the local pussycat with the long eyelashes and tantalising tail.
Although I live some fifty miles west of the offending noise, this would be the day to visit the Weeping Woman in Edinburgh, just in case the wind is from the east and I can hear the "Inverness Culture" from here.
Porridge For 18 Months.
The traditional Scottish breakfast of porridge is either loved or loathed. Although I am a Scot myself, I can't say it is my favourite food. I think I was put off it for life by my fathers insistence that it should contain too much salt, and NO sugar. Usually I would manage to get sugar sprinkled over the offending dish, but the disapproval and comments I had to endure on these occasions had a lasting effect.
Because of my own past experiences, I have some sympathy with this poor chap, who was probably only trying to make his breakfast palatable.
Because of my own past experiences, I have some sympathy with this poor chap, who was probably only trying to make his breakfast palatable.
Suicide Bombers - End Or Beginning?
Suicide bombers in Britain, bad news. Suicide bombers born in Britain, worse news. How many more are in our midst? Is this the end, assuming these four are all dead, or is this only the beginning? And, of course, are we only going to find out the hard way?
Apparently these young men were unknown to the police. No one suspected them. Identity cards would have not stopped them, CCTV cameras did not stop them.
___________________________
And meanwhile, over the Irish Sea, nothing stops these assholes from each side of the divide from creating their own Hell. The Mongrel grew up over there, and we went back to live in Belfast after the peace agreement was signed, thinking things would be better. We only stayed three years, and it was the parades nonsense that was the final straw for us. Nothing to affect us directly, but who needs all that shit?
Apparently these young men were unknown to the police. No one suspected them. Identity cards would have not stopped them, CCTV cameras did not stop them.
___________________________
And meanwhile, over the Irish Sea, nothing stops these assholes from each side of the divide from creating their own Hell. The Mongrel grew up over there, and we went back to live in Belfast after the peace agreement was signed, thinking things would be better. We only stayed three years, and it was the parades nonsense that was the final straw for us. Nothing to affect us directly, but who needs all that shit?
Monday, July 11, 2005
Vinyl? No, No, Never Again!
Vinyl records are enjoying a comeback, apparently. It just goes to show there are an awful lot of people around who have too much money to waste, are masochists, or are too young to have known the misery of a favourite album, bought with cash either saved up or, if it was one that was impossible to wait for, the food money, only to get it SCRATCHED - tik tik tik tik tik. Or even worse, We're Sergeant Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Ba tik Ba tik Ba tik Ba tik Ba tik Ba.......................
Sod that. I was delighted to move over to tape cassettes, despite the agony of the infernal machine chewing the odd gem of an album to death, and even more delighted to progress to the compact disc.
I have to admit I have never been just totally happy with the sometimes rather cold, harsh digital quality of some music on CD. Vinyl does have something special about its rendering of sound. Not enough, however, to make me even give a record deck house room, never mind the bloody records to spin on it.
Today I buy CDs, and immediately transfer the tracks to iTunes on my Mac iBook. I seldom play the discs again. The Mac, with an excellent set of three speakers attached, does all I could ever want, with a brilliant graphic equalizer to get the sound the way I like it, and fabulous visuals to make the whole pleasure of music complete.
If anyone really wants to go back to the wicked old dark ages of vinyl, I have the answer for you. If you don't have a Mac, get one, then download (for free, Mac only) RetroPlayer ver 1.6.0 and play your MP3 music through it. You can configure it to play too fast, too slow, with scratches, and make the "needle" stick - just like the real thing.
Sod that. I was delighted to move over to tape cassettes, despite the agony of the infernal machine chewing the odd gem of an album to death, and even more delighted to progress to the compact disc.
I have to admit I have never been just totally happy with the sometimes rather cold, harsh digital quality of some music on CD. Vinyl does have something special about its rendering of sound. Not enough, however, to make me even give a record deck house room, never mind the bloody records to spin on it.
Today I buy CDs, and immediately transfer the tracks to iTunes on my Mac iBook. I seldom play the discs again. The Mac, with an excellent set of three speakers attached, does all I could ever want, with a brilliant graphic equalizer to get the sound the way I like it, and fabulous visuals to make the whole pleasure of music complete.
If anyone really wants to go back to the wicked old dark ages of vinyl, I have the answer for you. If you don't have a Mac, get one, then download (for free, Mac only) RetroPlayer ver 1.6.0 and play your MP3 music through it. You can configure it to play too fast, too slow, with scratches, and make the "needle" stick - just like the real thing.
Sunday, July 10, 2005
Tom Cruise's Love Rival.
What a lovely thought. Tom Cruise being trampled by a tribe of penguins. In the few cinemas where it has been shown, the low budget documentary March of the Penguinshas been pulling in larger audiences than War of the Worlds.
Shot by Luc Jaquet, a 24 year old with a masters degree in animal biology, the film cost just £5m. to make. It's success is due mainly to word of mouth. Luc spent 13 months in Antartica trailing a flock of lovesick emperor penguins as they make their 70 mile journey, walking through blizzards and temperatures of minus 85 fahrenheit, to find the ice shelf where they breed. One critic has described it as an avian version of When Harry Met Sally.
So popular is the film, it was opening in another 350 cinemas this weekend, and is tipped to be far more profitable per pound spent than Cruise's film.
I sincerely hope Tom Cruise's overblown ego is severely dented by the news that filmgoers actually think penguins are more interesting than him. It will be even more crushed if Katie Holmes agrees, and marries a horny three foot high big beaked bird wearing a tuxedo - that's an emperor penguin I'm talking about, not Cruise.
Shot by Luc Jaquet, a 24 year old with a masters degree in animal biology, the film cost just £5m. to make. It's success is due mainly to word of mouth. Luc spent 13 months in Antartica trailing a flock of lovesick emperor penguins as they make their 70 mile journey, walking through blizzards and temperatures of minus 85 fahrenheit, to find the ice shelf where they breed. One critic has described it as an avian version of When Harry Met Sally.
So popular is the film, it was opening in another 350 cinemas this weekend, and is tipped to be far more profitable per pound spent than Cruise's film.
I sincerely hope Tom Cruise's overblown ego is severely dented by the news that filmgoers actually think penguins are more interesting than him. It will be even more crushed if Katie Holmes agrees, and marries a horny three foot high big beaked bird wearing a tuxedo - that's an emperor penguin I'm talking about, not Cruise.
Ve Haf Vays Of Telling You Nothing.
An update on the Birmingham evacuation last night. Apart from the controlled explosions, which were apparently not connected and turned out to be innocent items, nothing happened and the city was reopened this morning.
Police were on television first thing this morning, as was BigEars himself (Home Secretary Clarke) justifying the action and saying absolutely nothing except, "honest folks, it was really really credible information. Honest, it was, it was, but we cannot comment on ANYTHING 'cos that wouldn't do now, would it? But please trust us, we know best, because we are politicians and policemen so it's OK if we just tell you F**k All".
Fair enough - maybe - this time.
But one or two more incidents like that, with no explanation whatsoever, even taking into account the London bomb, and these people are not going to be believed.
Police were on television first thing this morning, as was BigEars himself (Home Secretary Clarke) justifying the action and saying absolutely nothing except, "honest folks, it was really really credible information. Honest, it was, it was, but we cannot comment on ANYTHING 'cos that wouldn't do now, would it? But please trust us, we know best, because we are politicians and policemen so it's OK if we just tell you F**k All".
Fair enough - maybe - this time.
But one or two more incidents like that, with no explanation whatsoever, even taking into account the London bomb, and these people are not going to be believed.
Any Change?
Roger Waters released one of my favourite albums of all time in August 1992. Some thirteen years later I still play it regularly. The album is "Amused to Death", and at the risk of Roger suing me to death for using his words, take a look at some of them.......
From the track "Perfect Sense, Part 1".
The monkey sat on a pile of stones
And he stared at the broken bone in his hand
And the strains of a Viennese quartet
Rang out across the land
The monkey looked up at the stars
And he thought to himself
Memory is a stranger
History is for fools
And he cleaned his hands
In a pool of holy writing
Turned his back on the garden
And set out for the nearest town
Hold on hold on soldier
When you add it all up
The tears and the marrowbone
There's an ounce of gold
And an ounce of pride in each ledger
And the Germans killed the Jews
And the Jews killed the Arabs
And the Arabs killed the hostages
And that is the news
And Is it any wonder
That the monkey's confused
He said Mama Mama
The President's a fool
Why do I have to keep reading
These technical manuals
And the joint chiefs of staff
And the brokers on Wall Street said
Don't make us laugh
You're a smart kid
Time is linear
Memory's a stranger
History's for fools
Man is a tool in the hands
Of the great God Almighty
And they gave him command
Of a nuclear submarine
And sent him back in search of
The Garden of Eden
___________________________
Thirteen years ago. Now tell me what has changed.
Then get out and buy the album.
Birmingham City Centre Evacuated.
Police have sealed off the centre of Birmingham after intelligence warned of a "substantial threat". 20,000 people (so far) have been evacuated and the police operation is ongoing.
I sit here in the middle of nowhere moaning about being in the middle of nowhere and missing city life, but is this a taster of city living in the future?
___________________________
But I'm still not far enough away to escape Katie Holmes gushing. I'm going to be sick if I hear another word from this silly little bitch. I've already taken to the hills, and I still hear her.
I sit here in the middle of nowhere moaning about being in the middle of nowhere and missing city life, but is this a taster of city living in the future?
___________________________
But I'm still not far enough away to escape Katie Holmes gushing. I'm going to be sick if I hear another word from this silly little bitch. I've already taken to the hills, and I still hear her.
Saturday, July 09, 2005
The Search For Loved Ones In London.
I have been watching the footage on television of brothers, sisters, mums and dads, friends, lovers, searching for the missing in the wake of the murderous bombings in London. Clutching pictures, talking to people in the streets and trekking round hospitals trying to get answers, it is unimaginable what they are going through.
The dignity and quiet determination in all of them, the anguish, the refusal to give up hope, the lack of anger or recrimination or hate (though that may come later, understandably) shines through, and Oh, if only - if only they could all find the ones they have to find, safe.
Some may, but not many, I fear. Look at the list. All folks like you and me. Surely they, none of us, deserve this.
The dignity and quiet determination in all of them, the anguish, the refusal to give up hope, the lack of anger or recrimination or hate (though that may come later, understandably) shines through, and Oh, if only - if only they could all find the ones they have to find, safe.
Some may, but not many, I fear. Look at the list. All folks like you and me. Surely they, none of us, deserve this.
Muggings On The Increase.
Nannie, out for a day in the car and enjoying her bacon roll and coffee, had no idea that, creeping silently up behind her, a mugger was about to pounce..........
Foto by The Mongrel.
Foto by The Mongrel.
Friday, July 08, 2005
Terror Robbery In London.
In the midst of the carnage in London, this despicable behaviour by some hotels, cashing in on peoples misery.
Perhaps I shouldn't be surprised. It happens every summer in the Highlands of Scotland when the tourists arrive, because we have some pretty scenery and a mythical monster. This generally, but not exclusively, seems to be an English disease (most hotels in the Highlands are owned by incomers from south of the border) but when London hotels fleece London people in circumstances like yesterday I would describe it as terrorism in it's own right.
Profiteering has reached a new and disgusting low.
___________________________
It has been quite an eye opener to see the way the people of London have taken all the horror of a day like yesterday in their stride. The calm determination to carry on with life, despite the fear everyone must have felt. Unique, I think, to Londoners.
Perhaps I shouldn't be surprised. It happens every summer in the Highlands of Scotland when the tourists arrive, because we have some pretty scenery and a mythical monster. This generally, but not exclusively, seems to be an English disease (most hotels in the Highlands are owned by incomers from south of the border) but when London hotels fleece London people in circumstances like yesterday I would describe it as terrorism in it's own right.
Profiteering has reached a new and disgusting low.
___________________________
It has been quite an eye opener to see the way the people of London have taken all the horror of a day like yesterday in their stride. The calm determination to carry on with life, despite the fear everyone must have felt. Unique, I think, to Londoners.
Thursday, July 07, 2005
After the Bombing, Let the Propaganda Begin.
Thirty eight dead, seven hundred injured, forty five of those with serious or critical injuries. That is the toll so far after a horrendous day for the people of London.
Now let the propaganda war begin. First shots will probably be fired by BigEars (Charles Clarke, Home Secretary) telling us that this is exactly the reason ID cards must be introduced (a bit late now) while Noddy (Prime Minister Tony Blair) backs him up by.........ummmmm........nodding, while stressing that evil acts by terrorists will never, never succeed in impinging on our civil liberties.
Noddy and BigEars, Prime Minister and Home Secretary.
___________________________
Police are to trawl CCTV cameras for clues to who did this. Fair enough, but all the cameras in the world will not stop incidents like this - only document the aftermath, and that is too late. London already has more CCTV cameras per block than any other city in the world.
At a press briefing this afternoon top police officers faced awkward questions from the press about so many of the capitals police force being in Scotland. They said everything was under control and that they had enough police to handle events on the ground. Soon after it was announced that many, if not all, were coming back down to London, including transport police who, presumably, would normally have been policing the transport system in London.
___________________________
Prize for the most inane, stupid comment of the day should go to Simon Hughes of the Liberal Democrat Party: "My only thought in the midst of all this confusion is that after the celebration of yesterday (for the Olympic 2012 London success) for people to be evil enough - if it is the intentional causing of death and injury - and think that they can justify this in any circumstances is completely unacceptable."
Yes Simon, let's not forget the Olympics - you prat.
___________________________
Now let the propaganda war begin. First shots will probably be fired by BigEars (Charles Clarke, Home Secretary) telling us that this is exactly the reason ID cards must be introduced (a bit late now) while Noddy (Prime Minister Tony Blair) backs him up by.........ummmmm........nodding, while stressing that evil acts by terrorists will never, never succeed in impinging on our civil liberties.
Noddy and BigEars, Prime Minister and Home Secretary.
___________________________
Police are to trawl CCTV cameras for clues to who did this. Fair enough, but all the cameras in the world will not stop incidents like this - only document the aftermath, and that is too late. London already has more CCTV cameras per block than any other city in the world.
At a press briefing this afternoon top police officers faced awkward questions from the press about so many of the capitals police force being in Scotland. They said everything was under control and that they had enough police to handle events on the ground. Soon after it was announced that many, if not all, were coming back down to London, including transport police who, presumably, would normally have been policing the transport system in London.
___________________________
Prize for the most inane, stupid comment of the day should go to Simon Hughes of the Liberal Democrat Party: "My only thought in the midst of all this confusion is that after the celebration of yesterday (for the Olympic 2012 London success) for people to be evil enough - if it is the intentional causing of death and injury - and think that they can justify this in any circumstances is completely unacceptable."
Yes Simon, let's not forget the Olympics - you prat.
___________________________
London Attacked But Police In Scotland.
The bombs in London this morning come at a time when many Metropolitan police officers are in Scotland policing the G8 summit at Gleneagles. Prime Minister Tony Blair is returning to London from the summit immediately. Perhaps he should take a large posse of the cops who have been so busy intimidating innocent protesters with him, to where they are really needed.
I travelled through the Stirling/Gleneagles area last night, and was shocked at the huge numbers of police in mini buses and vans rushing up and down the main A9 and M9 motorway like headless chickens, after spending the day failing to control the minority of protesters who succeeded in running rings round thousands of officers and closing down most of the road and rail network in central Scotland.
___________________________
Amid the terrible scenes from London this morning, and with the Prime Minister on his way back to the city, it has been announced that the summit will go on. That must be the right decision. An attack by terrorists makes the successful completion of the meeting of world leaders even more vital.
___________________________
1,500 officers from London are presently at Gleneagles.
___________________________
I travelled through the Stirling/Gleneagles area last night, and was shocked at the huge numbers of police in mini buses and vans rushing up and down the main A9 and M9 motorway like headless chickens, after spending the day failing to control the minority of protesters who succeeded in running rings round thousands of officers and closing down most of the road and rail network in central Scotland.
___________________________
Amid the terrible scenes from London this morning, and with the Prime Minister on his way back to the city, it has been announced that the summit will go on. That must be the right decision. An attack by terrorists makes the successful completion of the meeting of world leaders even more vital.
___________________________
1,500 officers from London are presently at Gleneagles.
___________________________
Bush Bashes Clown.
Ring of Steel, Gleneagles.
Colcam.Image
---------------------------
If anyone was in any doubt before yesterday, it must by now be obvious that George Bush really doesn't have enough of the grey stuff between his ears to be leader of the "free" world.
Arriving by chopper at Gleneagles for the G8 summit, George quickly noticed that a bunch of clowns (Clandestine Insurgent Rebel Clown Army) were attempting to break through the "ring of steel" surrounding the hotel grounds. Realizing that this was a great opportunity to prove his worth as Commander-in-Chief of his armed forces, and draw attention away from his completely absurd views on global warming, he quickly jumped on his bike and raced off to bravely fend off the nearest intruder.
Without fear for his own safety, George charged at speed towards the first clown he saw, and drove into him, bowling him over and wounding him. The fallen clown was immediately taken away under escort to hospital to have his wounds treated while George, after getting ointment and a plaster on his skinned knees, returned proudly to the hotel to dine with the Gracious Queen of Great Little Britain.
Unfortunately, George saw his dreams of glory turn to dust when his friend Tony, the leader of Great Little Britain, explained that there were two kinds of clowns in Scotland. One kind wore George Bush or Tony Blair masks and bright clothes, and the other kind wore blue uniforms and caps with shiny badges on them, and carried big sticks to hit the subjects of the Gracious Queen on the head with, and were sometimes called policemen.
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
BBC or EBC?
The BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) should today be renamed the EBC (English Broadcasting Corporation) for the blatantly London biased reporting on the main evening news at 10 pm.
As G8 leaders arrived at Gleneagles, and most of central Scotland was reduced to chaos when the police failed miserably to keep a handle on the activities of a minority of protesters who caused trouble throughout the day, the news that London had won the whatever year it's going to be Olympic games took up 20 minutes of the 30 minute news programme. The arrival of the 8 leaders, the main aims of the summit, and the riots, got just 5 minutes.
It is going to be difficult enough to persuade most Scots that the Olympics being held in London is in fact a British, rather than London, event. The BBC could very easily make it impossible.
As G8 leaders arrived at Gleneagles, and most of central Scotland was reduced to chaos when the police failed miserably to keep a handle on the activities of a minority of protesters who caused trouble throughout the day, the news that London had won the whatever year it's going to be Olympic games took up 20 minutes of the 30 minute news programme. The arrival of the 8 leaders, the main aims of the summit, and the riots, got just 5 minutes.
It is going to be difficult enough to persuade most Scots that the Olympics being held in London is in fact a British, rather than London, event. The BBC could very easily make it impossible.
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
Monster Scam.
If any proof were needed that the insurance business has no scruples and is only too keen to make a buck by any means possible, this is it.
I assume NIG (The National Insurance and Guarantee Corporation) are not covering triathlon competitors who are to swim in Loch Ness out of the goodness of their hearts. To take money as cover against being attacked by the monster is, to put it politely, a blatant rip-off.
On the other hand, if they are doing this out of the goodness of their hearts, which I doubt, it becomes no more than a cheap publicity stunt, which does nothing but encourage the myth of something that does not exist. A more honest approach would be to insure swimmers against getting minced in the propellors of the fleets of boats whose operators fleece tourists by pretending they have a chance of seeing a monster.
I assume NIG (The National Insurance and Guarantee Corporation) are not covering triathlon competitors who are to swim in Loch Ness out of the goodness of their hearts. To take money as cover against being attacked by the monster is, to put it politely, a blatant rip-off.
On the other hand, if they are doing this out of the goodness of their hearts, which I doubt, it becomes no more than a cheap publicity stunt, which does nothing but encourage the myth of something that does not exist. A more honest approach would be to insure swimmers against getting minced in the propellors of the fleets of boats whose operators fleece tourists by pretending they have a chance of seeing a monster.
Todd the Plod Gives Electrifying Performance.
The Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police is campaigning to get 50,000 volt Taser guns issued to ordinary police personnel. Presently only firearms officers are permitted to use them. To publicize his big idea he allowed himself to be blasted by one in controlled conditions. Unfortunately he lived to comment that ''it hurt like Hell''. It would have been better for the health of the general public if he had fried.
The thought of any Police Constable Plod, who is generally not the brightest button in the box, and tends to be somewhat racist, sexist, homophobic and more right wing than an American neo-conservative born again Christian on steroids, wandering the streets armed with a weapon that can deliver a killing size electric shock is frightening.
Controlled conditions do not take place on the street, and the Tactical Firearms Unit, I am sure, didn't hand a stun gun to some rookie cop to take out the Chief. Health and safety would not allow it, and health and safety will not be on patrol with PC Duh Plod.
Hazel Blears, the Home Office minister, has got this one right. She sounds like the universal mum: ''You can't have that - it's too dangerous for children''.
The thought of any Police Constable Plod, who is generally not the brightest button in the box, and tends to be somewhat racist, sexist, homophobic and more right wing than an American neo-conservative born again Christian on steroids, wandering the streets armed with a weapon that can deliver a killing size electric shock is frightening.
Controlled conditions do not take place on the street, and the Tactical Firearms Unit, I am sure, didn't hand a stun gun to some rookie cop to take out the Chief. Health and safety would not allow it, and health and safety will not be on patrol with PC Duh Plod.
Hazel Blears, the Home Office minister, has got this one right. She sounds like the universal mum: ''You can't have that - it's too dangerous for children''.
Sunday, July 03, 2005
Good Behaviour In Edinburgh.
Out of 225,000 people who marched in Edinburgh yesterday, police arrested only two, and these were not for anything directly related to the march. A great outcome to a march held for a great cause. It illustrates perfectly the kind of people who went to the city to make their voices heard. Ordinary folks, law abiding people from near and far, home and abroad, concerned and wanting to make their views known.
Maybe the week ahead will be different, with the possibility of trouble breaking out at some of the events to come. I don't know of many people who would trust 10,000 Police Constable Plods to NOT make trouble.
Maybe the week ahead will be different, with the possibility of trouble breaking out at some of the events to come. I don't know of many people who would trust 10,000 Police Constable Plods to NOT make trouble.
Dungavel - A Fly Move.
So, the disgraceful Dungavel detention centre is to be evacuated and closed down. A humane and sensible decision from the government?
No. A cynical move because of the threat of demonstrations outside the place during the G8 summit. Once all the fuss is over the refugees - families with children - are to continue their incarceration there.
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Lucy had a fly buzzing round her office. An entirely unacceptable situation for a presumably intelligent and obviously overpaid employee in a large accountancy firm, resulting in a four hour round of e-mails discussing what action should be taken to get rid of the offending beastie.
Where do they find staff like this, and how can someone so stupid and thick as this ever get a job at all? Perhaps Lucy thinks she is too important to stoop so low as swatting a fly. Maybe she just doesn't know how to swat a fly. Could it be Lucy just lacks any common sense at all?
Instead of wasting time sending e-mails, surely this dumb lady could have dealt with a simple little house fly by doing what anybody else would have done.
Throw the Goddamned computer at it!
No. A cynical move because of the threat of demonstrations outside the place during the G8 summit. Once all the fuss is over the refugees - families with children - are to continue their incarceration there.
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Lucy had a fly buzzing round her office. An entirely unacceptable situation for a presumably intelligent and obviously overpaid employee in a large accountancy firm, resulting in a four hour round of e-mails discussing what action should be taken to get rid of the offending beastie.
Where do they find staff like this, and how can someone so stupid and thick as this ever get a job at all? Perhaps Lucy thinks she is too important to stoop so low as swatting a fly. Maybe she just doesn't know how to swat a fly. Could it be Lucy just lacks any common sense at all?
Instead of wasting time sending e-mails, surely this dumb lady could have dealt with a simple little house fly by doing what anybody else would have done.
Throw the Goddamned computer at it!
Friday, July 01, 2005
Press Freedom? What Press Freedom?
The police action in Bristol against Indymedia to seize a server in an effort to get the IP address of someone who had posted on the site is another nail in the coffin of press freedom, and and a further step down the road towards a British police state.
The same old excuses, that bloggers are not journalists and therefore the normal rules of protecting sources do not apply, have been rolled out as usual. Disgraceful. The truth is, the authorities are realizing, belatedly, the power of the blog. They do not like it.
Indymedia statement and comment.
Freedom of Press Under Attack? BBC. 30 June 05
Bush and Blair constantly bleat about democracy, and are the first to protest when other countries clamp down on press freedom and the internet. Blogs being monitored and shut down in places like Iran and China bring howls of outrage. The hypocrisy is astounding.
The same old excuses, that bloggers are not journalists and therefore the normal rules of protecting sources do not apply, have been rolled out as usual. Disgraceful. The truth is, the authorities are realizing, belatedly, the power of the blog. They do not like it.
Indymedia statement and comment.
Freedom of Press Under Attack? BBC. 30 June 05
Bush and Blair constantly bleat about democracy, and are the first to protest when other countries clamp down on press freedom and the internet. Blogs being monitored and shut down in places like Iran and China bring howls of outrage. The hypocrisy is astounding.
Early Morning.
© Colcam 2005-2007
