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Friday, February 26, 2010

Question Time: the fists are still clenched

I'm past expecting journalists to be informed and knowledgable about the EU because it really is a tremendous bore for them not just to have to monitor Westminster but about four organisations in Brussels and admit that most legislation comes from the EU and that there's no real different in voting Labour, Liberal Dem or Conservative especially now that the Lisbon Treaty has gone through.

But Question Time is still the main media output which is causing a rise in my blood pressure and I don't think I'll calm down any time soon because I don't like bias and manipulation.

Biased BBC, the experts on this, have summed up last night's reason for not paying the license fee beautifully.

Oh, and just a point: Wales loves the EU so much that one of its four MEPs is John Bufton who, incidentally, is from UKIP.

Posted by Trixy at 12:11 pm Wednesday, February 24, 2010

A damp rag, and other stories - updated

Nigel Farage admits that his statement which has caused some rumpus around Europe wasn't what he originally was going to say. But he sat there in Brussels, listening to Rumpy Pumpy blather on about untold amounts of bullshit all whilst earning a completely unjustified salary and just thought he'd tell it how he saw it.

He was later attacked by Martin Schultz, a German Socialist who previously has called Farage a fascist for demanding a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. Slightly twisted logic you'll grant, but then he is a socialist and therefore completely devoid in sense or reason.

It's not that the EU doesn't understand democracy: they do but they just don't care because most people are more interested in Cheryl Cole's marital status than they are their own liberty. The reason they crack on with their beloved project is because there are very few people trying to stop them. Brown, Cameron and Clegg all gang bang the EU social model and most newspapers in Britain try to deny the existence of UKIP. Even Melanie Phillips promotes the BNP rather than pretend there's a non racist approach to immigration control.

It's been a long time since I've seen a speech from an MEP make it onto the 10 o clock news. There are matters more important than the bun fight which is Westminster happening every month but it would take more effort than they require to give for our beloved 4th estate to monitor properly.

The Full Speech!

Posted by Trixy at 10:48 pm random headline of the night

Goes to the Press Association for this:


Gay people: they'll stand with anyone.

They'll sleep with even more.

Posted by Trixy at 9:16 pm Tuesday, February 23, 2010

I've said it before and I'll say it again...

For the love of God please! Can we just leave?

Posted by Trixy at 9:38 pm Monday, February 22, 2010

No more snowfalls

By Charles Onians
Monday, 20 March 2000

Last updated at 10:44 AM on 22nd February 2010

So that's nice.

Posted by Trixy at 6:57 pm Saturday, February 20, 2010

All in the name of research

A busty blonde who was shafted by some dozy football player has written a book about dating the species. Francesca Amber Sawyer has the requisite number of opposing statements regarding morals in her delightful interview with the screws. but we should not mock, for she has gone above and beyond the call of duty.

Not only has she wapped out her bazongas for us all to understand the complex editorial issues but:

Blonde Francesca dated more footballers for research for her book, following her split from the cheating player.

For research, ladies and gentlemen.


Posted by Trixy at 7:47 pm Labels: i My quotation of the week

But anyone who changes their mind about voting for Gordon Brown as a result of watching him being deepthroated by a dripping wankstain like Piers Morgan doesn't deserve that vote; they deserve a public horsewhipping. I don't want this man "humanised". I want him out.

who else

Posted by Trixy at 5:28 pm I went to the pictures last night to see Wolfman, mainly because Gay friend wants Emily Blunt to be his wife in his straight fantasy world. It's not my normal choice of film: bonnets and heaving bosoms or war films, but it did have the occasional nice frock.

The thing with this werewolf, though, was that it didn't look like a wolf at all. Wolfman 2010

See: wolfman doesn't have that wolf like face. In fact, he looks like quite a different character Now, hands up: who would rather have Bungle in charge instead of Gordon Brown?

Posted by Trixy at 4:19 pm 
Eurozone countries take supportive stance against Greece 

Posted by Trixy at 10:50 am Fancy that

It infuriates me, too!

Posted by Trixy at 10:21 am Sunday, February 14, 2010

chocolate euros: prone to meltdown

Despite being away this week I have still had time to watch the compulsive viewing which is the Greek financial crisis. As the News of the World failed to mention today, there's one huge difference between the shit which we in the UK are in and the shit that Greece are in: because we stayed out of the Euro we have control over our monetary policy and they don't. They are fucked, and not in a good way.

Hind Sight, it is often said, has 20:20 vision. No one likes a smug know it all but this video is from over 12 months ago:

With reference to the comment about Greek bonds, Tim Worstall commented on it at the time:

Following today's attempt by Mr Farage to attack the EURO through provocative statements on Greece's membership to the EMU -during the plenary debate on the 10th anniversary of the EURO-, the Greek EPP-ED Delegation (Nea Demokratia) would like to inform you that today's tender of government bonds yielded a total amount of 2,550 billion Euros at an average rate of 2,51%, well below the Euribor rate of reference. The final result covers more than 6 times the amount targeted by the Greek government.
This offers a tangible response to any Member seeking to establish the truth regarding the credibility of Greece's performance as a trustworthy member of the Eurozone.
Mr Farage was really unlucky to attack Greece on the same day that markets proved their confidence to the Greek economy.

I love it when they do stuff like that:

Actually, the Greek government didn't issue bonds. They issued bills. Bonds are for more than a year, bills for less than one. Also, they didn't get "below Euribor". Euribor was 2.19% yesterday for 360 day bills. The Greeks paid 2.67%. This is known in financial circles as "more" than, not "less than" or "well below". The implication of this is that the markets think that the Greek government is a worse risk than your common or garden bank.

pointed out Young Master Worstall.

So 13 months down the line and we have the vote for the approval of the European Commission. Of course Labour and the Lib Dems were frothing at the gash to register their approval of 27 people who the poor chaps who pay their wages have no say over, but that's socialism for you. And the Tories? Well, what do you expect that fine, upstanding bunch of eurosceptics did?

Abstain, of course. Still, at least there's some opposition:

Lord Mandelson, of course, remains committed to selling this country down the river. but then the man's a wanker and what did we expect?

The Business Secretary spoke of the "remarkable success" of the beleaguered euro despite the problems which have beset the single currency in recent weeks.
The peer was speaking just as a group of key eurozone countries lined up to pledge “determined and co-ordinated action” over Greece.

I hope to dear God that you and I don't get asked to bail out this political project dreamed up by a group of twats with tiny todgers. Our economy is bad enough without Brown getting any more involved in it and handing us another huge bill. We are like Blackadder's proverbial pelican in this country.

Mandelson, of course, doesn't appear to understand that monetary flexibility is a good thing and let's have a look at what he said last June:

Britain "obviously" remains committed to joining the euro following the currency's "success" in helping its members to weather the economic crisis, Lord Mandelson said.

The newly promoted First Secretary of State, speaking in Berlin, hailed the euro as a saviour that had brought stability to the European Union during financial turmoil. Looks it.

But then if anyone in Labour had a grasp of economics perhaps we wouldn't have such huge debts and such pitiful growth.

I wish I had faith that the next lot would be any better: I'll have to cling on to the hope that it would be nigh on impossible to be any worse.

Posted by Trixy at 4:33 pm Britblog Roundup - Happy Pancake Day

Welcome aboard Britblog flight 260 bound for Greece, the only subject I've been following whilst I've been away from it all on hols.

Luckily, to avoid you all having to read about how I hate the Euro (cruel as it might sound, am rather enjoying watching this monetary breakdown) I have a whole list of posts to point you in the direction of. Busy things you are: whilst I have been hurtling down mountains with bits of wood strapped to my feet, some people have actually been writing and thinking beyond the firm buttocks of the ski instructor in front.

And it's just as well that others have been able to keep record of their finds in the blogosphere: for when it comes to my personal admin my strengths included integrity and doggedness but not record-keeping and office tidying and my "office is piled high with paper, fragments from over the years, tens of thousands of pieces of paper."

But enough of that, let is crack on with the goings on on t'interweb.
Natalie Bennett looks to the way her Grandmother used to live: 'green' living before such things were a lifestyle choice rather than a necessity pre mass consumption and credit cards.

What ever happened to Lady Billiana Harley?

Penny Red would like a good conversation instead of chocolate on Valentines Day. If there's a third option I'll go for that one: 400 calories an hour, it burns. Or to put it in more realistic terms, 100 for 15 minutes.

The F Word isn't that impressed with Labour's efforts to win over the 'white working class' with their policy of grass on your neighbour. I presume this action is something to do with the fact the BNP won two seats in the European Elections which were previously held by Labour and there's a General Election coming up. I'm sure there are easier ways to deal with benefit cheats than pitching a community against each other.

The Daily (Maybe) comments on a jury finding Ali Dizaei guilty when he wrongfully arrested a man with whom he had a personal dispute. Personally I've no idea why there is a 'National Black Police Association'. Aren't they all part of the same organisation? Why would they seek to separate themselves and distinguish themselves as 'different' based on the colour of their skin?

Those of you in town may wish to visit this show or instead you could stand around on a red car with your mates. Or not. Stand on a fence post and see if I care.

Staying in town, ornamental passions points to the irony of the Royal Institute of British Architects residing in a really shit building.

Women, know your limits and have dinner on the table to let your husband know you've been thinking about him all day.

Moving onto politics and A Place to Stand considers what the Conservatives should do if we get a hung Parliament come the imminent General Election. Side with the Lib Dems is one option, the other is avoid it by getting some policies.

The excellent Bishop Hill has a number of items the panel chosen to investigate those CRU e-mails including this rather interesting nugget on the views of a couple of the chaps chosen to come up with a conclusion. You can hold your breath if you like, or you can let out a huge sight and blow the mounds of paper around Prof Jones's office.

Mark Reckons that the dislike of taxes leads to politicians bringing in rises through the back door. With both Labour and the Conservatives looking at raising VAT to 20% the so called regressive tax (which I don't agree with: if you buy more expensive things then you pay more tax so it all balances out in the end) look forward to being able to spend less of your own money until someone realises that tax cutting is a fiscal expansion. Or grows a pair and gets down to some public spending cuts.

In this global village, is the entire British economy a 'local' issue, asks To much to say for myself? Local MP Chloe Smith seems to think so.

Green Party candidate Gayle Donovan takes issue with detention for asylum seekers and those wishing to migrate to this country. Some locals are joining in a hunger strike which is being undertaken by detainees to complain at conditions.

Sticking with the concept of injustice, Harry's Place discusses more MPs expense scandals, this time involving their staff and alleged donations to their political parties.

A facebook group I've joined recently, because I know exactly how to let people know what I think and take a stand, is regarding the hypocrisy of Amnesty International for sacking Gita Sahgal after a Sunday Times article where she spoke out about her concerns. She felt Moazzam Begg, a Guantanamo Bay inmate, could damage Amnesty's reputation:

Speaking of gross errors of judgement, His Grace has made the mistake of juxtaposing 'dark recesses' and 'Harriet Harman' which is something of a body blow. Don't read that until you've digested your evening meal even if you find the fact that the Equality and Human Rights Commission has been subject to 15 employment tribunals quite amusing.

Charles Crawford details Tony Blair's decision to open the UK labour markets to A8 countries following EU accession in 2004 and how the Polish government did not believe him, straight from the horses mouth. It would have been nice, I think, if the policy on open borders hadn't been based on a German study of how many workers would migrate there.

Sticking, or rather not sticking, to Teflon Tony, Pajamas Media comments on Blair's defence of the illegal war in Iraq. And that's me being unbiased before anyone moans: I could have written a lot more.

And finally, thanks to Master Worstall for pointing those of us with a concern for the anatomy of Haridan Harperson towards this little snippet

She may not have a spine so winning 'Rear of the Year' may compensate in some way.

And if that doesn't then this gift suggestion by the lovable clown should do the trick... Next week we're paying a visit to philobiblon which will be lovely.

Send your super suggestions to britblog [at] gmail [dot] com

Posted by Trixy at 3:54 pm Saturday, February 06, 2010

Brown: how dumb does he think we are?

Sitting on the bus going home yesterday evening I was flicking through the Standard and noticed a large double page piece on Gordon Brown.

And flicked through to the next page.

Because what can that man possibly say to a journalist that I actually believe or trust? I wasn't the only one. I glanced around the bus to see passengers all flicking over this piece of which Gordon must have been so pleased. The standard writing about him: gosh. Things are about to change and we really can win the general election!

Except that not even someone as absent from reality as our Prime Minister can believe that, can they? The news that he wished to change the voting system seemed to me an announcement to the country saying 'even we don't really think we can win'.

Labour of course lured the Liberal Democrats in the 1990s with their promise of electoral reform. And funnily enough, when it was obvious that they would smash the opposition via the First Past The Post System, there was no appetite for electoral reform.

To me, the polls these days show how shit all the parties are, rather than how inspirational any of them will be. The Tories will be tinkering pointlessly around the edges and the fact that they aren't in for a landslide victory at the General Election, leaving the disastrous Labour Party floundering around in a death dance, like a wasp in summer after an effective blast of 'raid' sadly says more about them than it does about our government.

But the declaration that Brown wants a new voting system to somehow rebuild trust in this shattered parliamentary democracy we have left is laughable, were it not so insulting. 'I want to give Parliament back to the people' he declares: the very man who refused us a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty and thus on our own future.

The AV system involves voters ranking their candidates in an order of preference. If a candidate receives a majority of first-place votes, he or she would be elected just as under the present system. However if no single candidate gets more than 50 per cent of the vote, the second choices for the candidate at the bottom are redistributed. The process is repeated until one candidate gets an absolute majority.

The Labour Party have moved boundaries around to benefit them in the first past the post system and now it seems that they will not win for a fourth time under FPTP, they wish to fiddle it so they have a fighting chance.

In the old days, before the Tories elected a leader who was missing a vital part of his skeleton, Labour and the Lib Dems were both on the left with the Tories on the right. In alternative voting this means that Labour and Lib Dems will do better because their supporters will rank each other 1 and 2 with the Tories ranked much lower down or, if you're a tactical voter like me, not ranked at all.

It's why the Lib Dems have long supported it and why now the outgoing government wishes to support it. It's to pretend to those who don't understand the complexities of gerrymandering that not only will they be tough on expenses *cough* but they will also make the parliamentary system more accountable.

I've long been an advocate of a change to the voting system because whilst there are flaws to proportional voting I think that universal suffrage is hampered if people have 'wasted votes' because they live in a strong hold. It also means that people end up voting for the big party they hate less rather than vote for the party they actually feels represents their views. European Parliament elections don't have these same constraints which is why there is a much broader spectrum of political views represented from your left wing Labour, BNP Labour and Green (although I suspect people who vote for them do it for the kittens rather than because they actually know what they stand for) through to your centre ground Tories and then tipping right towards UKIP. In simple terms.

What do we get in Westminster? A group of people barely distinguishable from each other who are occasionally joined by a chap in a crumpled suit and some well meaning gentleman who wandered into a village hall and was then unexpectedly elected to represent the 'Save Piddlington Hospital' party.

Gordon: if you'd said this when you were winning I might have wanted to punch you in the face less. But the fact that you've said it when you're losing and desperate to pick up votes from the Liberal Democrats makes me want to find a brick to fit snugly in my clenched fist.

At least I can be sure of one thing: it doesn't matter what he says as most people just don't care.

Posted by Trixy at 12:40 pm Friday, February 05, 2010

Quotation of the picosecond

Comes from crook ex MEP Tom Wise:

He also said that one of his "most prized possessions" in prison is a Christmas card signed by ex-Beatle Paul McCartney when he visited parliament recently.

He told the friend, "I keep it under my pillow. You have to be careful as this place is full of thieves."

You said it. Can we have our money back?

Posted by Trixy at 8:18 am Wednesday, February 03, 2010

inverted snobbery

Fuck off with your non RP accent.

Everything else, I get a nice black cab for.

Of which, more to follow...

Posted by Trixy at 11:36 pm From our US Correspondent: Bin Laden and the environment

"Terrorist ring-leader pretends to care about climate change" shocker

It’s such a relief. Now we know why Bin Laden’s disciples keep hijacking aeroplanes. They’re worried about airline emissions and the deleterious effect that they have on our environment. How could we have been so dumb to think that they were attacking the developed world for being morally vacuous, secular, pluralistic and democratic!

Bin Laden’s TV spot on Al Jazeera was among the most bizarre online viewing last week; more bizarre even than Boris strutting his stuff at a City Hall Christmas Party or President Obama requiring a teleprompter to deliver a speech to a class of eleven year olds in their school. It seems strangely incongruous for Bin Laden to care passionately about climate change – a twenty-first century concern. This afterall, is a man committed to turning the clock back to the eighth century, where men were ruthless warriors, women were chattels and gays and infidels were dead.

Bin Laden has political and financial motives for his latest telly spot; his motives have nothing to do with ice caps melting and polar bears dying. He is trying to appear to make common cause with the left and their pet issue: the environment. This enables American Republicans to label Democrats as friends of Osama in the mid-term elections in November. Anyone who says they care about the environment will be labeled “Bin Laden’s soul mate on carbon” etc. Bin Laden knows this and knows the way politics work – if this happens he expects the American people to elect Republicans, resulting in a far more right of centre Congress. Electing largely anti-regulation Republicans to Congress will halt the development of alternative or renewable energy sources.

Bin Laden is worried about his long term funding. The US reported last week that wind power had increased by 39% in the past year. The US is the only nation on the planet with the capacity to develop affordable alternatives to fossil fuels – if the US carries on in this vein then maybe they could have alternative sources to oil in a decade – who knows?. This terrifies Bin Laden because he needs the US to remain reliant for oil on Arab producing states; the very nations that fund his terrorist activities. Saudi Arabia is the single largest source of money and men for Al Qaeda. For instance, according to the United Nations Security Council Report, “Terrorism Financing: Roots & Trends of Saudi Terrorism Financing” of December 2002, Al Qaeda has collected between $300 million and $500 million in donations since the late 1980s, almost all if from sources inside Saudi Arabia. If the oil money dries up (and the Saudis have done nothing to diversify their single product economy while they’ve been swimming in cash) who will pay for all the detonators and semtex? They’ll be no one to fund the next round of horrifying fireworks in Washington, DC, Madrid, London, New York, Tel Aviv (delete as applicable).

Whether you believe in man made climate change or not – and this post is not about that issue; whether you’re George Will or George Monbiot, don’t let Bin Laden be a factor in your decision – he doesn’t deserve your consideration.

Posted by Trixy at 8:19 am 
World Climate widget Save the Pub Campaign

Click here to sign the petition! Ones that people seems to like flattery will get you everywhere Most Shaggable Blogger 2008 British Blog Directory
