Some time around dawn my grandmother chose to go for a walk. At around 07:00 the police came hammering on my door to confirm that she'd made it home safe of her own accord.
I dunno, attention seeking behaviour the day before a general election. Who would have thought it (!)
Wednesday, 5 May 2010
Tuesday, 4 May 2010
Hello. I've Got Nothing To Say.
Seriously at the moment my life is so peaceful it's tediously dull.
I suppose I could tell you that the other "named person" in my grandmother's LPA is an ex-barrister called Lloyd Lloyd. That's not a spelling mistake he's just so good they named him twice.
I could also confirm that the LibDem leadership contest in the Madrid question was 2005 and won by Menzies Campbell, a man so old everyone thought he'd died in 1994. Go on check you dates. I'm sure it will add up although I'm not sure why that's the one fact about my life I would like to have proved.
I suppose I could tell you that the other "named person" in my grandmother's LPA is an ex-barrister called Lloyd Lloyd. That's not a spelling mistake he's just so good they named him twice.
I could also confirm that the LibDem leadership contest in the Madrid question was 2005 and won by Menzies Campbell, a man so old everyone thought he'd died in 1994. Go on check you dates. I'm sure it will add up although I'm not sure why that's the one fact about my life I would like to have proved.
Ah Yes, Nick Clegg.
During this election campaign British voters have experienced their first ever candidates debates. Apart from giving Sky News an excuse for endless hours of self promotion the debates gave the leaders of the three main political parties an equal platform to promote themselves. As this was the first time many voters had even heard of the Liberal Democrats (LibDems) and their leader Nick Clegg the party experienced a huge bounce in the opinion polls as some voters found them to be fresh, new and exciting.
Sadly though I'm the sort of person that when they arrive in Madrid for a romantic weekend their first thought is to get on the Internet to find out who won the LibDem leadership contest. So I am more then familiar with the LibDems, Nick Clegg and the alternative they offer.
Although it was formed in 1988 the most recent chapter in the LibDem's history began with the Labour Party's 1997 landslide election victory in 1997. Here the Conservative Party (the Tories) didn't so much lose as were destroyed. Overnight they went from being the party of government to struggling to hold onto second place and were said to be unelectable ever again. Things were so bad for them that at even the politest middle-class dinner parties announcing that you supported the Conservative party was less socially acceptable then admitting you were a paedophile. This created a huge problem for a generation of prospective Conservative MP's. Either they were honest about their political views and gave up on a career in politics or they could join the LibDems and get the cushy expense accounts they craved.
While he's never been famed for his strength of character Nick Clegg was at the cutting edge of this movement. So when he won the party leadership in 2007 the LibDems lost whatever vague connection they once had to David Lloyd George's* battling Liberal values. That means that the only alternative I can see the LibDems offering is a party with Conservative values that will sit alongside the Conservatives in government and do whatever the Conservatives tell them to do. If that's the alternative you may as well just vote for the Conservatives and avoid the charade of a hung parliament which sadly does not mean that we actually get to hang any of them.
*David Lloyd George was the legendary leader of the Liberal Party in the early part of the 20th century. If it is possible for one man to change the course of a nation then David Lloyd George is the reason that Britain never fell to the twin disasters of Communism or Fascism. To even mention him in the same breath as Nick Clegg is a grave insult to his memory.
Sadly though I'm the sort of person that when they arrive in Madrid for a romantic weekend their first thought is to get on the Internet to find out who won the LibDem leadership contest. So I am more then familiar with the LibDems, Nick Clegg and the alternative they offer.
Although it was formed in 1988 the most recent chapter in the LibDem's history began with the Labour Party's 1997 landslide election victory in 1997. Here the Conservative Party (the Tories) didn't so much lose as were destroyed. Overnight they went from being the party of government to struggling to hold onto second place and were said to be unelectable ever again. Things were so bad for them that at even the politest middle-class dinner parties announcing that you supported the Conservative party was less socially acceptable then admitting you were a paedophile. This created a huge problem for a generation of prospective Conservative MP's. Either they were honest about their political views and gave up on a career in politics or they could join the LibDems and get the cushy expense accounts they craved.
While he's never been famed for his strength of character Nick Clegg was at the cutting edge of this movement. So when he won the party leadership in 2007 the LibDems lost whatever vague connection they once had to David Lloyd George's* battling Liberal values. That means that the only alternative I can see the LibDems offering is a party with Conservative values that will sit alongside the Conservatives in government and do whatever the Conservatives tell them to do. If that's the alternative you may as well just vote for the Conservatives and avoid the charade of a hung parliament which sadly does not mean that we actually get to hang any of them.
*David Lloyd George was the legendary leader of the Liberal Party in the early part of the 20th century. If it is possible for one man to change the course of a nation then David Lloyd George is the reason that Britain never fell to the twin disasters of Communism or Fascism. To even mention him in the same breath as Nick Clegg is a grave insult to his memory.
Monday, 3 May 2010
Happy News For Nice People.
It has now been accepted by all parties that under law there is only one way the Court business can end so there is only one way it will end. All I have to do now it sit back and wait until for the right time to apply for an order to recover costs from this solicitor.
I've been using that down time to read through this blog which in my arrogance believe is quite widely circulated within the borough. I've noticed that I've twice clearly stated that my time is valued at £2500 per natural hour. The most recent occasion was on January 15th 2010, three days before the solicitor wrote me his letter of January 18th. Now the solicitor has never attempted to raise the issue of fees with me so I can only conclude that he has accepted the advertised rate. This process began in November 2009 and is unlikely to end until September 2010.
While we're on the subject I have never been uncontactable since 1998. In those twelve years I have never received a County Court summons on financial matters. That means that under law my credit record is pristine. If you've heard anything different then it's just a puffed up local judge attempting to defame me. I suggest that matter is resolved without my involvement.
I've been using that down time to read through this blog which in my arrogance believe is quite widely circulated within the borough. I've noticed that I've twice clearly stated that my time is valued at £2500 per natural hour. The most recent occasion was on January 15th 2010, three days before the solicitor wrote me his letter of January 18th. Now the solicitor has never attempted to raise the issue of fees with me so I can only conclude that he has accepted the advertised rate. This process began in November 2009 and is unlikely to end until September 2010.
While we're on the subject I have never been uncontactable since 1998. In those twelve years I have never received a County Court summons on financial matters. That means that under law my credit record is pristine. If you've heard anything different then it's just a puffed up local judge attempting to defame me. I suggest that matter is resolved without my involvement.
Sunday, 2 May 2010
Look Today's Sunday
and for me yesterday was a very long day at the end of a very long week. So reading back over my poorly written last post I can see how you have might have got the impression that the New York car bomb could have been a sort of CIA/FBI/NSA false flag operation. Personally I don't agree because if you're thinking in that direction you also have to consider the possibility that it was;
If nothing else the incident does highlight the difference in culture between the UK and the US. In the UK if an idiot wants to draw attention to himself on May 1st he does it with a well crafted placard. In the US he does it with a poorly crafted but, in this case, very large petrol bomb.
- Britain's MI6 on behalf of British Petroleum (BP) who are obviously quite upset about the US$10bn+ they're going to have to pay out over this oil slick.
- Israel's Mossad who would quite like to retain complete control over the US government.
- Whatever China's foreign intelligence agency is called who would like to gain complete control over the US government.
- Any state backed or corporation backed intelligence agency who would like to increase their influence over the US government.
If nothing else the incident does highlight the difference in culture between the UK and the US. In the UK if an idiot wants to draw attention to himself on May 1st he does it with a well crafted placard. In the US he does it with a poorly crafted but, in this case, very large petrol bomb.
Amateur Hour!
At around 18:30 (local) on Saturday police in New York were alerted to a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) that was packed with propane gas cylinders, gasoline and retail grade fire works. The police reasonably considered it to be a bomb threat and sealed off the area while the vehicle was made safe.
Although this was clearly a deliberate act I think it's a bit dramatic to call it a terrorist attack. This is because a bomb of this type is unlikely to ever explode as was proved during a similar incident in London back in 2007. Therefore rather then being the work of an organised terrorist cell I think this was the act of a disgruntled lone wolf who may have some vague connection to a variety of ideologies included but limited too; Islam, anarchism or the right-wing militia ideology's that seem to be unique to the US. However regardless of which particular ideology this nut case is using to justify their actions I wouldn't go so far as to call them a terrorist because that wasn't terrorism it was just embarrassing.
As such I think it's time for a bit of political point scoring.
Personally I think it's all the fault of the American right. After the Fort Hood shootings they spent a lot of time criticizing the American left for not calling it a terrorist attack because a supposed Al Qeada leader in Yemen had apparently called on Muslim's living in America to carry out this type of lone wolf attacks. All the publicity that this created has clearly given every malcontent with an SUV and a match ideas.
Although this was clearly a deliberate act I think it's a bit dramatic to call it a terrorist attack. This is because a bomb of this type is unlikely to ever explode as was proved during a similar incident in London back in 2007. Therefore rather then being the work of an organised terrorist cell I think this was the act of a disgruntled lone wolf who may have some vague connection to a variety of ideologies included but limited too; Islam, anarchism or the right-wing militia ideology's that seem to be unique to the US. However regardless of which particular ideology this nut case is using to justify their actions I wouldn't go so far as to call them a terrorist because that wasn't terrorism it was just embarrassing.
As such I think it's time for a bit of political point scoring.
Personally I think it's all the fault of the American right. After the Fort Hood shootings they spent a lot of time criticizing the American left for not calling it a terrorist attack because a supposed Al Qeada leader in Yemen had apparently called on Muslim's living in America to carry out this type of lone wolf attacks. All the publicity that this created has clearly given every malcontent with an SUV and a match ideas.
Saturday, 1 May 2010
Chalk Up Another Mayday.
Today I've been checking out the Mayday protests that have been going on in central London.
As it does every year the Trade Unions march gathered around three thousand people to Trafalgar square to listen to some speeches. I would tell you what those speeches were about but I sort of drifted off.
The Anti-Democracy demonstration in Parliament square was quite small. At most it attracted 800 people and a similar number of police officers although most of them remained in reserve. The group managed to block St Margret street and one lane of Bridge street. As it was a Saturday and Parliament wasn't in session the police decided it was easier to divert traffic around the protest then to try and break it up.
The Reclaim the Street Party did exactly what it said on the tin. It was a smallish party to celebrate Mayday held in a designated graffiti area in the arches underneath Waterloo railway station. Apparently it was meant to take place in the park area between the Royal Festival Hall and the former County Hall building but had to be moved because of the rain. I got there at almost exactly 16:00 so they were still rigging it up when I arrived and it was just beginning to get going as I left. Obviously this means that I have no idea how it's going to end but as it seems a well organised party in a tunnel underneath one of London's busiest railway stations it would take a major sense on humour failure by the police for it to end in trouble.
As I was making my way back at around 17:00 the Parliament square protests seemed to be winding down due to a combination of the rain and boredom. The reason I had to get back early is because by an amazing coincidence my father has been summoned to one of his network meetings this evening. Given the current lay of the land that means I need to be home to keep an eye on my grandmother while we both get paranoid in the knowledge that the MI5 cannon fodder will be drinking themselves to death in the pub tonight.
All in all I think that as Maydays go this one went very well because no-one really wants riots five days before a general election and on the opening day of the Shanghai Expo.
As it does every year the Trade Unions march gathered around three thousand people to Trafalgar square to listen to some speeches. I would tell you what those speeches were about but I sort of drifted off.
The Anti-Democracy demonstration in Parliament square was quite small. At most it attracted 800 people and a similar number of police officers although most of them remained in reserve. The group managed to block St Margret street and one lane of Bridge street. As it was a Saturday and Parliament wasn't in session the police decided it was easier to divert traffic around the protest then to try and break it up.
The Reclaim the Street Party did exactly what it said on the tin. It was a smallish party to celebrate Mayday held in a designated graffiti area in the arches underneath Waterloo railway station. Apparently it was meant to take place in the park area between the Royal Festival Hall and the former County Hall building but had to be moved because of the rain. I got there at almost exactly 16:00 so they were still rigging it up when I arrived and it was just beginning to get going as I left. Obviously this means that I have no idea how it's going to end but as it seems a well organised party in a tunnel underneath one of London's busiest railway stations it would take a major sense on humour failure by the police for it to end in trouble.
As I was making my way back at around 17:00 the Parliament square protests seemed to be winding down due to a combination of the rain and boredom. The reason I had to get back early is because by an amazing coincidence my father has been summoned to one of his network meetings this evening. Given the current lay of the land that means I need to be home to keep an eye on my grandmother while we both get paranoid in the knowledge that the MI5 cannon fodder will be drinking themselves to death in the pub tonight.
All in all I think that as Maydays go this one went very well because no-one really wants riots five days before a general election and on the opening day of the Shanghai Expo.
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