Andy murray - respect
Andy Murray has beaten world number one Rafael Naal to get to the US Open Tennis final. This is a phenomenal result from the brilliant British player who is now ranked as world number 4. I expect I will be glued to a radio tomorrow night as the commentary this evening was surprisingly good, given how difficult it must be to commentate on such a fast and visual sport as tennis. I don't know what Murray's politics are but I can't help wondering how long it is before either Alex Salmond or Gordon Brown adopt Andy Murray as their 'champion' ... (more)
Conservative Brothel House!
I think I will beat Mr. Black to it by blogging on this one tonight! What a chuckle! A husband and wife Tory Councillors are offering £100 sex for the pair at their Wolverhampton semi. It says in a newspaper. The geezer is governor of a C of E school. He introduced his wife to an investigator wanting £80 for her or £100 for him thrown in! God forbid... Who on earth would do that? The full article is here (more)
If you don't read or listen to anything else this week........
Being a Radio 4-o-phile I listened to this Point of View from Katharine Whitehorn this morning. It is excellent and one of the best critiques of the deification of the market I have ever heard. Should be required listening, but if you don't want to listen - "Heard the one about how many economists it takes to change a lightbulb? The belief that the market would take care of it has been shaken, says Katharine Whitehorn. I was brought up by a classical father who believed, with Socrates, that "where the wind of the argument leads there we must follow ... (more)
I Can Has LiberalSim?
Gotta love anony-trolls. Is LiberalSim the kind of Sim who really pisses off the LabourSims and TorySims? I've never really played it, but I know some of you guys have. In other news, I have a Doctor Who-based rant brewing (thanks Steph!) but no matter how good a rant it grows to be, it's never going to be as good (and probably not as sweary, either) as this one about the politics of rape by apiphile (more)
Kirsty Williams: The Lib Dems' Barack Obama?
This fanciful suggestion is made - without proper attribution - by an article from Wales Online: Kirsty Williams is racing ahead in the battle to become Welsh Liberal Democrat leader - and the first female head of any party in the country, Wales on Sunday understands. Fans of the mother-of-three have compared the Brecon and Radnorshire AM to both US presidential candidate Barack Obama and "a street fighter".Apart from that it is a sensible look at who may become leader of the Liberal Democrats in Wales. Jenny Randerson has not made up her mind whether to stand yet. Eleanor Burnham ... (more)
Don't be fooled by Ed Balls
Reading this article featured on the BBC website you would think that at last the government is about to abolish the End of Key Stage Two tests (know as SATs). In fact changing to the new system of single level tests means that children will sit at lease two Government inspired tests in their school life. A child will sit a test when their teacher feels they are working at a certain level. (more)
"Hard-Working Families"
The Honourable Lady Mark has reminded me of something that really, REALLY winds me up. Our Glorious Leader has recently started using terms like hard-working families which I had previously considered the preserve of the other two parties - The Labour because they want to think that they are helping the deserving poor, and the Tories because they are only bothered about net wealth creators. Every time I hear it, it makes me get that Stressed Eric throbbing vein. I think: what about childless couples, and gay people, and widows, and teenage burger flippers? Their work's not good enough, isn't ... (more)
Nick Clegg on Westminster Hour
Nick on the wonderful Westminster Hour explaining the inexplicable and accusing those who don't get it of "splitting hairs". Well at the risk of splitting hairs, my reading then is that £20 billion is first for reallocation and second for tax cuts. Please can we have some more meat on the Bones (excuse the pun!) - if we are going to have a bun fight over this I would really like to know where exactly it is we are aiming our buns. Despite my differences with him on this issue I have to confess that Nick came across very well ... (more)
Forced Caesarian [1998] EWHC Admin 490 (7th May, 1998)
I have linked to this case because it is an important case. I have not myself come to a view on it as yet. (more)
Cafe in Vauxhall Park - excellent news!
We are delighted to see that the new cafe in Vauxhall Park is now open and went to see Henri, the owner (in the centre of the picture) and try out some of the delicious refreshments. We can recommend it and suggest you give it a try! Congratulations to all local residents who campaigned for this, in particular to the Friends of Vauxhall Park for all their hard work and persistence in making it a reality. The cafe is on the corner of South Lambeth Road and Fentiman Road, just a few minutes walk away from Vauxhall tube, bus station ... (more)