This story is about a guy called Dutch. But we're going to take a little detour first. I say little. It's more of a road trip. I remember about ten years ago, I was idling a nice day away in Dudley. Yes, that is possible, being an outlet for Batham's, the finest beer in the land, and hence in all of the world.
I was some know-it-all student punk, ambling around the town's cluster of charity shops. I found a book about Enoch Powell, signed by the man himself. I saw him as nothing more than a local celebrity fascist, and so didn't see much point in buying the book- these were the heady days before e-Bay and so forth, so I didn't feel compelled to make a fast buck on it.
Of course, charity shops are like jumble sales- it wasn't advertised as being autographed, because the staff didn't realise that it was.
Inevitably, I'm a little gutted, in hindsight. And, given that we now live in a authoritarian, right-wing state which masquerades as something different, perhaps it's time for me to revise my opinion on the Brummie polemicist.
Infamous for his "Rivers Of Blood" speech, the speech itself arose from the case of a Wolvehampton landlady who refused to rent out her spare room to blacks, depsite the high demand. He was against the introduction of the Race Relations Bill, rather than immigration, as he saw the proposal as a curtailment of freedom of expression. To quote him, "Like the Roman, I seem to see ‘the River Tiber foaming with much blood’".
This was, in fact, a reference to the civil rights unrest in the US, via a reference to Virgil. Standard Tory oratory, if not from an incredibly intelligent background.
Inevitably, though, intelligence isn't always a bedfellow of perception, but I'm surprised that I agree with a lot of his opinions. He was furious with Britain's attempts to appease the Nazis, seeing it as a betrayal of British interests. He was also quick to realise that Russia would end up as a key ally with Britain.
During the war, he came to the conclusion that America had plans to dismantle the Britsh Empire and become the dominant superpower- "I see growing on the horizon the greater peril than Germany or Japan ever were...our terrible enemy, America."
Part 2 coming tomorrow....
Monday, August 21, 2006
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Chek-Chek-Chek It Out
Well, hello and welcome, dear reader. I've been doing things like going out in the fresh air and enjoying the occassional warm, sunny day in this pesky maritime-temperate NW European climate. Hence, I haven't been posting much. You can see that for yourselves, though. Oh well, I feel like I've let you down, and I've let myself down. I'll endeavour to ensure it doesn't happen again. Actually, that's not entirely true. I intend to loaf around some more first. Rather like Chekhov (think Russian literature, not Star Trek), who wrote:
What a top bloke. In fact, I've dug up a load of quotes about idleness. I might put some more on here, but I can't be bothered today.
"My most intense pleasure is to walk or sit doing nothing. My favourite occupation is picking useless stuff (leaves, straw, and so on) and doing useless things".
What a top bloke. In fact, I've dug up a load of quotes about idleness. I might put some more on here, but I can't be bothered today.
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
Magna Carta
On this day in 1215, King John sealed Magna Carta, which would guarantee English political freedoms and limit the power of the monarchy.
One of the main clauses was:
"No free man shall be arrested, or imprisoned, or deprived of his property, or outlawed, or exiled, or in any way destroyed, nor shall we go against him or send against him, unless by legal judgement of his peers, or by the law of the land".
Thank heavens that Tony Blair is determined to remove as many of our rights and liberties as possible. It goes without saying that 800 years of English history are wrong, and "Dear Leader" Blair is right...
One of the main clauses was:
"No free man shall be arrested, or imprisoned, or deprived of his property, or outlawed, or exiled, or in any way destroyed, nor shall we go against him or send against him, unless by legal judgement of his peers, or by the law of the land".
Thank heavens that Tony Blair is determined to remove as many of our rights and liberties as possible. It goes without saying that 800 years of English history are wrong, and "Dear Leader" Blair is right...
Sunday, June 12, 2005
Asbo-lutely Fabulous
"My client admits that he was drunk when he created a disturbance at Weymouth Bay Caravan Park", defending solicitor Roger Maxwell told Weymouth Magistrates Court. "He admits that he used threatening words & behaviour, he admits to shouting & banging on caravan doors, and he admits to swearing at the police when they handcuffed him.
It is also true that he is already the subject of a 2-year Anti-Social Behaviour Order. But in mitigation, I should point out that..the wording on the Asbo specifically states that he is 'prohibited from not being drunk in a public place'".
After consultation with his fellow magistrates, Chairman of the bench Colin Weston passed judgement on 38-year-old Stephen Winstone. "It is fortunate for you that the Asbo has been badly written, because otherwise we would have been looking to sentence you to prison for a couple of years. However, you were technically fulfilling the terms of your Asbo by being drunk in public, so the court will show leniency to you. You are fined £100".
[source: Dorset Echo 17/03/05].
It is also true that he is already the subject of a 2-year Anti-Social Behaviour Order. But in mitigation, I should point out that..the wording on the Asbo specifically states that he is 'prohibited from not being drunk in a public place'".
After consultation with his fellow magistrates, Chairman of the bench Colin Weston passed judgement on 38-year-old Stephen Winstone. "It is fortunate for you that the Asbo has been badly written, because otherwise we would have been looking to sentence you to prison for a couple of years. However, you were technically fulfilling the terms of your Asbo by being drunk in public, so the court will show leniency to you. You are fined £100".
[source: Dorset Echo 17/03/05].
Saturday, June 11, 2005
Keyboard Warrior
Typing at a keyboard. Like using a phone, it enables gutless morons to act aggressively, safe in the knowledge that they won't get a shoe-ing. And that's why messageboads are wonderful. That specific moment when someone just loses the plot and then the floodgates open. The keyboard warrior just can't stop, or, heaven forfend, back down like the coward they inebitably are.
Ladies & gents, click here to witness perhaps THE funniest example of someone exploding into a rage of bigoted nonsense. And what fundamentalist bulletin board are we talking about? Er...Lonely Planet. Take the time to read every post. Genius. Accidental genius.
Ladies & gents, click here to witness perhaps THE funniest example of someone exploding into a rage of bigoted nonsense. And what fundamentalist bulletin board are we talking about? Er...Lonely Planet. Take the time to read every post. Genius. Accidental genius.
Monday, June 06, 2005
Apostate Windbag
Apostate Windbag
This is a great blog which I've lazily only just posted about. For good measure I'll add it as a link soon.
This is a great blog which I've lazily only just posted about. For good measure I'll add it as a link soon.
Who Murdered John Peel?
Shift-patterns are detrimental to health. Fact. I've lived the call-centre dream first-hand, so I know. Everyone who's ever worked nights or late-shifts knows it. It's not called a graveyard shift for nothing.
I'm healthy(ish) and in my thirties, and would feel the strain. Imagine what it must be like if you're in your sixties.
In the mid-nineties, Radio One repaid their debt to their longest-serving DJ in the only way they knew how- by giving him short shrift. Notably at a time when "alternative" music was truly seeping into the mainstream, the BBC beancounters clearly saw him as a spent force, albeit with cult status. With multiple reschedules, Peel was forced to work later hours and make the long journey from Suffolk to London and back. This stress was intensified in 1996, when his wife Sheila suffered a brain haemorrage. The BBC switched and reduced his slots to ease the pressure, but six months later he was back on a regular late start for 3 days a week. For a while his show was starting at an "early" 20:40.
In 2001, Peel was diagnosed with diabetes. Out of compassion, the BBC soon had him back on a late night slot (starting 22:00). A few months before his tragic death, the BBC decided to turn the screw a bit more, and bump his show back to a 23:00 start.
Two weeks before he died, Peel told Andy Kershaw that the move to the 23:00 slot:
John Peel
Well done, BBC, you've done us proud. John Peel's later shows were available to listen to 24/7 on the internet, as well as being broadcast live on radio. As the BBC are so keen on promoting digital media, you have to wonder why they failed to allow an elderly employee, in ill heath, to record the shows at a reasonable time, to be broadcast later at any time they chose. Instead, they cause further damage to his body-clock and related biochemical processes. At best, they are criminally neglient, at worst, well... anyone for corporate manslaughter?
People who work nightshifts as part of their job may be at greater risk of heart disease, say researchers.
A team from the University of Milan has found that the heart does not respond well to being made to work hard in the middle of the night.
This is because the body is programmed to slow down during the night - and changes to sleep patterns appear to have no effect.
The researchers found that nerve activity that accelerates the heart is lower in people working an overnight shift than when they work in the morning or afternoon. BBC website, 17 October 2000.
I'm healthy(ish) and in my thirties, and would feel the strain. Imagine what it must be like if you're in your sixties.
Urine tests from workers on the [late] shift revealed that levels of melatonin, the sleep-regulating hormone normally secreted at night, did not become synchronised to the new sleep times after shift changes. As well as being more tired and less attentive on the job, these unadapted workers showed signs of being at risk of long-term health effects. The men had abnormally high levels of fatty acids circulating in their blood after meals, compared with the day shift or adapted workers. This increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes and other metabolic disorders. New Scientist, 23 April 2005.
In the mid-nineties, Radio One repaid their debt to their longest-serving DJ in the only way they knew how- by giving him short shrift. Notably at a time when "alternative" music was truly seeping into the mainstream, the BBC beancounters clearly saw him as a spent force, albeit with cult status. With multiple reschedules, Peel was forced to work later hours and make the long journey from Suffolk to London and back. This stress was intensified in 1996, when his wife Sheila suffered a brain haemorrage. The BBC switched and reduced his slots to ease the pressure, but six months later he was back on a regular late start for 3 days a week. For a while his show was starting at an "early" 20:40.
In 2001, Peel was diagnosed with diabetes. Out of compassion, the BBC soon had him back on a late night slot (starting 22:00). A few months before his tragic death, the BBC decided to turn the screw a bit more, and bump his show back to a 23:00 start.
Two weeks before he died, Peel told Andy Kershaw that the move to the 23:00 slot:
"caused him a lot of stress and that he felt marginalised and unappreciated" Wikipedia.
John Peel
Well done, BBC, you've done us proud. John Peel's later shows were available to listen to 24/7 on the internet, as well as being broadcast live on radio. As the BBC are so keen on promoting digital media, you have to wonder why they failed to allow an elderly employee, in ill heath, to record the shows at a reasonable time, to be broadcast later at any time they chose. Instead, they cause further damage to his body-clock and related biochemical processes. At best, they are criminally neglient, at worst, well... anyone for corporate manslaughter?
Chop Chop!
Afternoon all! I'm back from my self-imposed exile and I'm doing a good job of typing, considering I nearly lopped off half a finger last night. A few Stellas, a couple of tots of Glenfiddich, and I was all fired up for some midnight cookery. Obviously moving into the arena of searing metal, boiling water, and sharp knives is a risk at any time, but more so when you've strapped on your beer-goggles. Endorphins and alcohol save the day again...
Monday, September 20, 2004
The Monotony Of Neoteny
So, I was about to paraphrase Desmond Morris's anthropological explanation [see previous post] of why humans have leaned towards religion.
There are 3 reasons.
Firstly, our sense of time. Animals communicate with each other about the present- about current moods and dangers, but not the future, whereas we can contemplate mortality.
Animals have various defences against predators (ie. their immediate danger) but we have just one defence against mortality - denial. No-one can deny we'll all die and rot, so some joker came up with the idea of an "immortal soul" which survives in the afterlife, and thus defends against death.
God's agents then only have to constantly remind followers of their mortality and convince them that the afterlife is managed by their god. The self-protective urges of the worshippers do the rest.
Secondly, holy men are aided by neoteny. It's a biological condition in certain species (yep, humans included) where juveniles act as adults, and adults as juveniles. Example: Humans start to reproduce when juvenile, and are filled with curiosity and playfulness. But adult humans are more like neotenous apes rather than adult apes- the apes lose their playfulness as they mature, but humans don't.
Still with me? Another example: Dogs. They're like neotenous wolves. Especially as we want our "best friend" to be playful, so we breed more and more juvenile dogs.
A mature domestic dog still leaps around and plays, like a wolf cub, but wolves mature and stop playing.
If your eyes haven't glazed over, the point is that a dog will respond to its human owner as if a parent. A dog can mate & breed but still obeys its master- it's a perfect pet.
Humans too can be sexually mature yet still need parenting. OK, you can see how this is fitting into place, right? Humans need some sort of super-parent, something as impressive to a human, as a human is to a dog.
So, we started inventing gods. Lots of gods. Female super-parents (Mother Goddesses), male super-parents (God The Father), or even whole families of gods. Like real parents, they protect, punish, and expect obedience.
But why can't real parents fill this role? Because they'd always need to be biologically bigger than their offspring, so we can look up to them, and they would need superior strength, to be biologically protective. That might be the case at first, but kids soon grow up and start breeding, whilst their feeble parents recede into the world of Richard Whiteley and the Daily Telegraph. Hence, we need all-powerful beings that we can (literally) look up to. No matter how old we get, we can still call our gods "Holy Mother" or "Father". Humans put child-like trust in them or their agents, who adopt similar titles themselves.
I'm Feelin' It!
The third reason that we lean towards such nonsense is our highly-evolved sense of cooperation. When our society became hunter-gatherers, we had to cooperate a lot more. As a pack of hunters, tribal leaders needed active cooperation rather than just passive submission. The drawback, then as now, is that any sense of initiative might lead to questioning our allegiance to the tribe or leader- we needed a fine blend of free-thinking and group cohesion. Of course, a super-being offers the chance for blind faith combined with thoughtful intelligence.
The problem is, some of us are still living according to our Neolithic instincts.
[Check out Pistonhips for more pics].
There are 3 reasons.
Firstly, our sense of time. Animals communicate with each other about the present- about current moods and dangers, but not the future, whereas we can contemplate mortality.
Animals have various defences against predators (ie. their immediate danger) but we have just one defence against mortality - denial. No-one can deny we'll all die and rot, so some joker came up with the idea of an "immortal soul" which survives in the afterlife, and thus defends against death.
God's agents then only have to constantly remind followers of their mortality and convince them that the afterlife is managed by their god. The self-protective urges of the worshippers do the rest.
Secondly, holy men are aided by neoteny. It's a biological condition in certain species (yep, humans included) where juveniles act as adults, and adults as juveniles. Example: Humans start to reproduce when juvenile, and are filled with curiosity and playfulness. But adult humans are more like neotenous apes rather than adult apes- the apes lose their playfulness as they mature, but humans don't.
Still with me? Another example: Dogs. They're like neotenous wolves. Especially as we want our "best friend" to be playful, so we breed more and more juvenile dogs.
A mature domestic dog still leaps around and plays, like a wolf cub, but wolves mature and stop playing.
If your eyes haven't glazed over, the point is that a dog will respond to its human owner as if a parent. A dog can mate & breed but still obeys its master- it's a perfect pet.
Humans too can be sexually mature yet still need parenting. OK, you can see how this is fitting into place, right? Humans need some sort of super-parent, something as impressive to a human, as a human is to a dog.
So, we started inventing gods. Lots of gods. Female super-parents (Mother Goddesses), male super-parents (God The Father), or even whole families of gods. Like real parents, they protect, punish, and expect obedience.
But why can't real parents fill this role? Because they'd always need to be biologically bigger than their offspring, so we can look up to them, and they would need superior strength, to be biologically protective. That might be the case at first, but kids soon grow up and start breeding, whilst their feeble parents recede into the world of Richard Whiteley and the Daily Telegraph. Hence, we need all-powerful beings that we can (literally) look up to. No matter how old we get, we can still call our gods "Holy Mother" or "Father". Humans put child-like trust in them or their agents, who adopt similar titles themselves.
I'm Feelin' It!
The third reason that we lean towards such nonsense is our highly-evolved sense of cooperation. When our society became hunter-gatherers, we had to cooperate a lot more. As a pack of hunters, tribal leaders needed active cooperation rather than just passive submission. The drawback, then as now, is that any sense of initiative might lead to questioning our allegiance to the tribe or leader- we needed a fine blend of free-thinking and group cohesion. Of course, a super-being offers the chance for blind faith combined with thoughtful intelligence.
The problem is, some of us are still living according to our Neolithic instincts.
[Check out Pistonhips for more pics].
Sunday, September 19, 2004
Thunder And Consolation
Tom emailed me recently to advise that there's some new stuff on the Robert Anton Wilson site- wry reflections on how we fear thunder, and ultimately worship a donut-like god.
But why does humanity have such a preference for god-bothering? Of course, it's because most people are slack-minded eejits. Desmond Morris gives an anthropological explanation. When he's not churning out contrived surrealist paintings.
Praise The Lord!
Morris (Peoplewatching, 2002) describes religious display as submissive acts performed to dominant individuals, to appease super-dominant beings, and to obtain favours or avoid punishments.
In the animal world, it's common for subordinates to engage in submissive acts (think alpha male monkey fights), but when it comes to those crazy humans, the dominant figure is never present. Instead, they're represented by images or artifacts and operate through agents (a.k.a priests/holy men).
These middlemen (by happy coincidence) enjoy a position of social influence and respect- some of the power of the god rubs off on them- hence it's vital that they keep worshippers permanently obedient. They encourage social rejection of worshippers of rival gods. Of course, a "benefit" of this cultural isolation is the development of sects and sectarian violence.
You might want to get yourself a nice cup of tea now, or indeed a large whisky, because my next post'll explain why us rational beings have allowed this delusional nonsense to thrive unchecked since the Stone Age...
But why does humanity have such a preference for god-bothering? Of course, it's because most people are slack-minded eejits. Desmond Morris gives an anthropological explanation. When he's not churning out contrived surrealist paintings.
Praise The Lord!
Morris (Peoplewatching, 2002) describes religious display as submissive acts performed to dominant individuals, to appease super-dominant beings, and to obtain favours or avoid punishments.
In the animal world, it's common for subordinates to engage in submissive acts (think alpha male monkey fights), but when it comes to those crazy humans, the dominant figure is never present. Instead, they're represented by images or artifacts and operate through agents (a.k.a priests/holy men).
These middlemen (by happy coincidence) enjoy a position of social influence and respect- some of the power of the god rubs off on them- hence it's vital that they keep worshippers permanently obedient. They encourage social rejection of worshippers of rival gods. Of course, a "benefit" of this cultural isolation is the development of sects and sectarian violence.
You might want to get yourself a nice cup of tea now, or indeed a large whisky, because my next post'll explain why us rational beings have allowed this delusional nonsense to thrive unchecked since the Stone Age...
Monday, September 13, 2004
Happy Christmas Everybody!!!
I was overjoyed with feelings of goodwill to all today when I found that capitalist behemoth Sainsbury's had sneaked Christmas trinkets onto the shelves. I wonder if it's a coincidence that we've just had our first weekend of autumnal weather in England?
Friday, September 10, 2004
Abbo's Pillow
Hurrah! Normal service is resumed following my prolonged period of post-holiday inactivity.
Whilst camping near Saint Tropez, I was able to test out the Abbo's Pillow. And it worked a treat.
Thanks to Marcus for this top tip. Like all other downtrodden indigenous peoples, the Australian Aborigines have been right royally screwed. Marginalised in their own land, they consequently have high rates of alcoholism. John Pilger has plenty of facts and figures for you on this baby.
So, they drink. And it's more economical to buy a lightweight box of wine rather than several bottles.
Once you've drained the contents of the silver bag inside the box, you simply inflate it and rest your weary head down upon it.
Down Under, It's lovingly referred to as the Abbos's Pillow, and it's the way forward for modern outdoor drinkers and tinkers.
Whilst camping near Saint Tropez, I was able to test out the Abbo's Pillow. And it worked a treat.
Thanks to Marcus for this top tip. Like all other downtrodden indigenous peoples, the Australian Aborigines have been right royally screwed. Marginalised in their own land, they consequently have high rates of alcoholism. John Pilger has plenty of facts and figures for you on this baby.
So, they drink. And it's more economical to buy a lightweight box of wine rather than several bottles.
Once you've drained the contents of the silver bag inside the box, you simply inflate it and rest your weary head down upon it.
Down Under, It's lovingly referred to as the Abbos's Pillow, and it's the way forward for modern outdoor drinkers and tinkers.
Wednesday, July 28, 2004
En Vacances
It's been very hectic this week and I haven't had the opportunity to tell you all the exciting things I'd intended to.
It's been so hectic, in fact, I feel like I need another holiday, so I'm off to Provence today (ooh, lah-de-dah).
I'll tell you all about my misadventures when I'm back.
It's been so hectic, in fact, I feel like I need another holiday, so I'm off to Provence today (ooh, lah-de-dah).
I'll tell you all about my misadventures when I'm back.
Tuesday, July 27, 2004
Dirty Sanchez
Never mind that it's a rubbish, Welsh version of Jackass.
After the Brighton escapade, we kipped at all-round good guys Alex & Sylvia's house. Not only did we express our gratitude for their hospitality by emptying their drinks cabinet, they also, gracious hosts as ever, informed me what Dirty Sanchez actually means.
After the Brighton escapade, we kipped at all-round good guys Alex & Sylvia's house. Not only did we express our gratitude for their hospitality by emptying their drinks cabinet, they also, gracious hosts as ever, informed me what Dirty Sanchez actually means.
Brighton Cock
Pease Pottage Service Station. Sounds like one of those places where Morrissey would have quit because Newport Pagnell was more enticing.
More to the point, that's where we started off on the London to Brighton Lancia run on the Sunday before last.
Rob grabs an 8am power-nap at a car-wash.
But Pease Pottage isn't as awful as it sounds. According to one online encyclopedia, "it also has a shop, pub, and some small industrial units". All the attraction of a tiny Milton Keynes. Nice.
More importantly, it meets the A23, so we (Rob, Chris & I) had a rather jolly day out, touring the Sussex countryside.
I'm not a fan of cars except in the sense that they appeal to my disregard for exercise, so I was apprehensive there'd just be a load of petrolheads, wanking over turbo chips.
Nah- everyone (except the knob who turned up in a Ferrari) was sound- Lancia owners don't need to show off, just like Skyline owners don't need to. They know they've got great cars, so they don't need to prove anything.
Ferrari owners are clearly either (a) going through a textbook version mid-life crisis, (b) a professional footballer with no financial advisor, or (c) delusional that they're driving a fanny magnet.
Having tailed this arse in his prancing horse for a couple of miles, it was obvious that the only people that were impressed by his motor were chavs. Money well spent, then.
More to the point, that's where we started off on the London to Brighton Lancia run on the Sunday before last.
Rob grabs an 8am power-nap at a car-wash.
But Pease Pottage isn't as awful as it sounds. According to one online encyclopedia, "it also has a shop, pub, and some small industrial units". All the attraction of a tiny Milton Keynes. Nice.
More importantly, it meets the A23, so we (Rob, Chris & I) had a rather jolly day out, touring the Sussex countryside.
I'm not a fan of cars except in the sense that they appeal to my disregard for exercise, so I was apprehensive there'd just be a load of petrolheads, wanking over turbo chips.
Nah- everyone (except the knob who turned up in a Ferrari) was sound- Lancia owners don't need to show off, just like Skyline owners don't need to. They know they've got great cars, so they don't need to prove anything.
Ferrari owners are clearly either (a) going through a textbook version mid-life crisis, (b) a professional footballer with no financial advisor, or (c) delusional that they're driving a fanny magnet.
Having tailed this arse in his prancing horse for a couple of miles, it was obvious that the only people that were impressed by his motor were chavs. Money well spent, then.
Saturday, July 17, 2004
Staying Focused
Can't see the wood for the trees
Well, I was going to come out with some more political rants today, but I'll spare you for a little while.
Instead, here's a picture I took a few days ago, just before dawn, from
outside my appartment. I doubt that David Hockney's losing any sleep
over it.
I've actually played around with it on Paint Shop Pro to get rid of a
lot of noise from some sodium lights. I'd also tried playing about with
the saturation, but inevitably it looked like a photograph of a
chemical disaster.
I'm off to Brighton at a stupidly early time in the morning.
Erstwhile buddies Chris & Rob both own Lancia Deltas, so we're off
to a London to Brighton run. Hopefully I'll make it back in one piece, along with a couple more photos.
Then I'm off to Amsterdam for a few days, so I might not be posting for a little while.
Friday, July 16, 2004
Feeling Irie!
Laura Bush is apparently a big fan of countercultural music, and has encouraged the Bush kids to listen to Bob Dylan.
Under-age-drinker Jenna Bush says her mom's "record collection is awesome. She's got Jimmy Cliff and Bob Marley. When we have parties at the ranch, we play them and all our friends love them".
Tory MP Sir Teddy Taylor is also a big Bob Marley fan, and apparently tries to incorporate Bob's lyrics in his political messages wherever possible.
Fix up, raasclaat!
[sources: Washington Post, The Sunday Times]
Under-age-drinker Jenna Bush says her mom's "record collection is awesome. She's got Jimmy Cliff and Bob Marley. When we have parties at the ranch, we play them and all our friends love them".
Tory MP Sir Teddy Taylor is also a big Bob Marley fan, and apparently tries to incorporate Bob's lyrics in his political messages wherever possible.
Fix up, raasclaat!
[sources: Washington Post, The Sunday Times]
Breaking News! Pope Is Catholic!
The British National Party are confirmed to be a bunch of ignorant fascist thugs.
Next week: The shocking revelations about bears defecating in forests...
Next week: The shocking revelations about bears defecating in forests...
Thursday, July 15, 2004
What The Butler Stalled....
Shock & awe in British politics today when (as widely predicted) Robin Butler's "investigation" into the intelligence community and Blair's ludicrous WMD claims revealed nothing that wasn't already in the public domain.
Why would it? Butler is the man who declared disgraced Tory MP Neil Hamilton innocent, despite the dodgy cash bribes he received in plain brown envelopes from Mo Al-Fayed.
Butler also declared Johnathan Aitken innocent in another whitewash. Aitken, another disgraced Tory MP, was subsequently jailed for perjury, following revelations about more arms dealing, this time connected with the Saudis.
During the Scott inquiry (into covert British arms sales to our one-time best buddy...Saddam Hussein), it was Butler who said it was proper conduct for MPs to be "selective about the facts" and give "an answer that is not the whole truth".
More recently, Butler himself signed the Orders in Council that allowed party political appointess to give orders to civil servants. Hence it was he who allowed Alaistair Campbell (Blair's press secretary) & Johnathan Powell (Blair's chief of staff) to interfere with the provided intelligence (forcing the inclusion of the "45 minutes" nonsense).
Blair was his usual self in the Commons this afternoon. Instead of apologising, he argued, in mimicry of Bush's "for-us-or-against-us" hyperbole, that if you were against the invasion of Iraq, you must be a supporter of Saddam Hussein...
[sources: Paul Vallely in The Independent 10 July; Medialens.org 19 February]
Why would it? Butler is the man who declared disgraced Tory MP Neil Hamilton innocent, despite the dodgy cash bribes he received in plain brown envelopes from Mo Al-Fayed.
Butler also declared Johnathan Aitken innocent in another whitewash. Aitken, another disgraced Tory MP, was subsequently jailed for perjury, following revelations about more arms dealing, this time connected with the Saudis.
During the Scott inquiry (into covert British arms sales to our one-time best buddy...Saddam Hussein), it was Butler who said it was proper conduct for MPs to be "selective about the facts" and give "an answer that is not the whole truth".
More recently, Butler himself signed the Orders in Council that allowed party political appointess to give orders to civil servants. Hence it was he who allowed Alaistair Campbell (Blair's press secretary) & Johnathan Powell (Blair's chief of staff) to interfere with the provided intelligence (forcing the inclusion of the "45 minutes" nonsense).
Blair was his usual self in the Commons this afternoon. Instead of apologising, he argued, in mimicry of Bush's "for-us-or-against-us" hyperbole, that if you were against the invasion of Iraq, you must be a supporter of Saddam Hussein...
[sources: Paul Vallely in The Independent 10 July; Medialens.org 19 February]
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