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My fifteen minutes

· Events

And that is about how long I had to get just a little bit of classical liberal thinking out into the more mainstream airways last night.

Though, actually, rather less in view of the fact that I was sharing a platform on the ‘Richard Littlejohn Show’ with two other protagonists. One was a chap named Jay Lee who is an activist in the British National Party (and who has been expelled by his Trade Union because of it) and the other was Kevin McGuire a journalist with the Guardian.

I was placed in the middle in the ‘Mr.Reasonable’ seat which, as it turned out, was not ill-judged. Mr.Lee insisted that the Union had no right to expel him just because of his political views and Mr.McGuire insisted that the Union had an obligation to expel him because of his political views. Applying the voluntarist principle I maintained that Mr.Lee was perfectly entitled to his views, regardless of how stupid and vile they may be, but that the Union, as a voluntary organisation, were free to make any rules about membership that they damn well please and it was nobody else’s business.

Perry, who was watching from home, tells me that the BNP guy actually made a pretty decent fist out of casting himself as the persecuted victim (with just the right degree of indignant self-pity) and that Kevin McGuire came across as an intolerant ranter. I like to think my libertarian message got across as well but it is always so difficult to know for sure amidst the soundbitten and somewhat chaotic nature of TV debates. I think it fair to say that I hit the right chord with Richard Littlejohn but then, as he quietly admitted to me afterwards, he is rather sympathetic to our ideas. It certainly helped that he clearly wanted my voice to be heard. I think we have an ally out there.

So that was that. No resolution of course but these things are seldom solvable and I was content that, aside from nearly melting in the stifling heat of the TV studio, I had managed to emerge unscathed. I was a little frustrated at being unable to get in a plug for the Samizdata so that will have to wait until next time (assuming, of course, that there is a next time).

June 27th, 2003 | 10 comments - (Comments are closed)

Samizdata in the spotlight

· Events

It looks as if I am going to be a ‘talking head’ on UK satellite TV tonight. I have been asked to appear on the ‘Richard Littlejohn Show’ to discuss the case of a train driver who has been expelled from his Trade Union because of his membership of the British National Party.

In other words, it’s ‘freedom of association’ stuff.

The show will be broadcast live at 8.00pm UK time on the Sky News Channel.

June 26th, 2003 | 13 comments - (Comments are closed)

Walking in Orwell’s footsteps

· Events

Simon Davies of Privacy International organised an event this evening here in London in order to honour George Orwell and hoist a drink or three to one of England’s greatest writers on the occasion of his birthday.

Now I know a lot of you have read Orwell’s sundry works… 1984… Animal Farm… etc… but how many of you have drunk a ‘Black and Tan’ at Orwell’s favorite pub, the Newman Arms on 23 Rathbone Street…

…followed by walk to the Elysee Restaurant, around the corner at 13 Percy Street, which was one of Orwell’s favorite eating places? The default dish here has to be Moussaka, as Orwell ate it on nearly every occasion that he visited this place.

A splendid evening was had by Gabriel Syme and myself (the wicked and iniquitous Johnathan Pearce was a no-show) amidst an impressive collection of privacy and civil liberties activists from across a .. ahem… wide range of the political spectrum.

June 25th, 2003 | 5 comments - (Comments are closed)

Tonight on BBC Radio 3

· Events

An update regarding tonight’s ‘Undercurrents debate’ on BBC Radio 3 Night Waves, 9:30 pm UK time (also via Internet).

The topic is:

Is Democracy Dead – superceded by the power of the markets and the media?

Participating will be George Monbiot, John Lloyd, John Kay and me.

June 11th, 2003 | 24 comments - (Comments are closed)

Samizdata.net-on-the-BBC

· Events

Tomorrow night my disembodied voice shall be appearing on BBC Radio 3, on the programme Night Waves at 9:30 pm UK time (also via Internet).

Along with George Monbiot, John Lloyd, the eminent journalist and former editor of New Stateman, and possibly one other person, we shall be discussing democracy, globalization and politics.

June 10th, 2003 | 19 comments - (Comments are closed)

Just the FACTs about blogging

· Events · Independent sites & social media

I have just got back to London after spending the night in more northern parts, where I gave a talk about blogs and blogging at Liverpool’s rather swanky new downtown FACT (Film, Art & Creative Technology) centre.

Many people are looking for the FACTs about blogging in Liverpool

It is good to proselytize the joys of blogging to a wider audience. Although though the audience was rather technology savvy, blogging was a completely concept to many of the people there. Also interesting was to see a couple people in the media lounge where I turned up to give my talk reading Salam Pax’s blog.

On a day in which an article in The Times notes the power of blogging to scare the living daylights out of some sections of the established media and quotes blogger Mickey Kaus, it is interesting to see our blogger-in-arms in Iraq helping to raise the profile of blogging generally in places like Liverpool.

I even managed to meet a new potential client for my latest business endeavor, a blogging consultancy that will show companies how blogs can greatly assist their businesses. Together with two fellow Samizdatistas David Carr and Adriana Cronin, who was the one who thought up and elaborated the idea, we have started a new venture called the Big Blog Company.

Blogs are increasingly starting to enter the public consciousness … we are spreading like a virus but are much more fun that SARS

June 8th, 2003 | 6 comments - (Comments are closed)

Blogs and marriage

· Events · Independent sites & social media

Is this the first ‘blogger-marriage’, I wonder?

Regardless of whether it is or not, many congratulations to Andrew Dodge and Sasha Castel who are now Mr. and Mrs. Castel-Dodge.

February 24th, 2003 | 12 comments - (Comments are closed)

Street Theatre

· Events

Having managed to wangle a couple of front-row seats, my fellow reviewer Perry de Havilland and I made our way eagerly to Central London to witness the latest production of Lefties Labour’s Lost presented by the Stop The War Theatre Company.

I always enjoy open-air theatre, especially when it’s high farce. But, from the opening curtain, I had the uncomfortable feeling that this effort was not going to live up to my expectations.

I was impressed by the large, ensemble cast made up of a motley collection of old communists, new communists, greens, Islamists, socialists, peaceniks, beatniks, trade unionists, padres, cadres and a troupe of folk dancers from Somerset. As the drama unfolded, I thought I recognised some of the faces in the Chorus and, indeed, upon checking my notes, I was pleased to be able to confirm that much of the cast had been recruited from the highly successful ‘Anti-Globalisation World Tour’.

Doubtless bonded by that experience, the director must have hoped that this cameraderie would add an extra dynamism to this production but, if that was the intention, then I regret to report that it was not achieved. The cast ambled through their paces determinedly but without much in the way of conviction leaving the audience with a sense of spectacle but nothing memorable.

The script was a total let-down. Directors of future productions should take note that drearily familiar lines such ‘No war for oil’ and ‘Drop Bush not bombs’ have to be delivered with pep and brio in order to have any impact at all. As it was, the cast opted for mere dismal repetition. This will not do. I was left with the impression that, perhaps, the best of their energies had been left in rehearsal.

Kudos must be accorded to the costume designer for splendid authenticity. Everywhere we looked there were muddy browns, washed-out blacks, dull greens and quite the most dizzying array of woolly caps imaginable. Many of the costumes were so profoundly soiled that , I do declare, they stood up and marched about on their own. An eye for this kind of detail is always appreciated.

Alas, it was not enough to rescue the piece which from terminal mediocrity. A flat and pedestrian rendition from an institutional cast lacked the oh-so important quality of spine-tingling zest necessary to truly move an audience. The kindest thing I can say about the direction is that is was formulaic; utterly devoid of anything approaching a radical innovation.

By the interval, both Mr.de Havilland and I were hard put to stay awake and, indeed, we both slipped out quietly before the final curtain.

Notwithstanding the plethora of pre-publicity, this performance fails to live up to its billing. There is some sound, surprisingly little fury and, in the final analysis, it signified nothing. I predict a short run.

February 15th, 2003 | 10 comments - (Comments are closed)

NASA FTP site

· Aerospace & Astronautics · Events · Science & Technology

NASA has set up this FTP site here for the public to use to upload photos, videos and documentary commentary of found debris. It may be the first use of the Net to assist in disaster evidence collection on such a massive scale.

REMEMBER not to touch anything. And FORGET about trying to profit from this tragedy.

February 4th, 2003 | One comment - (Comments are closed)

Take the idiot trail

· Economics, Business & Globalization · Events

I want to know what happened to ‘going overland to India’ to seek spiritual fulfilment and alternative lifestyles? Perhaps the Indians have decided to put a stop to all that. Can’t say as I blame them.

However, that means that the Anti-Everything Brigade has been unleashed in droves all over the rest of the planet like deranged locusts. The Swarm du jour has now descended upon Porto Alegre in Brazil where this hotch-potch of losers, whiners, nutjobs and assorted marxoids, and which now dubs itself the (snigger) ‘World Social Forum’ is in a gigantic snit about not being taken seriously.

Mercifully, they are not taken seriously. Except by the BBC (sorry, the ‘World Media Forum’) which has published a glowing full-page tribute:

“As soon as you arrive your senses are overloaded with colourful causes and campaigns all competing for attention.”

Especially your sense of smell.

“It does not aim to promote one view but celebrate diversity.”

Great can we come along to sing the praises of capitalism, then?

“If the businessmen and political heavyweights from Davos were transported to Porto Alegre – slogan “another world is possible” – they really would believe they were on a different planet.”

Yup.

“Where else would a gay rights march be followed moments afterwards by a pro-Palestinian protest?”

Not in Palestine that’s for sure.

“Or landless people’s movements from Latin American, Asia and Africa be able to sit round a table and compare notes?”

Landless but not flightless apparently. Exactly where do these starving peons get their travel money? And precisely what ‘notes’ do they compare?

“Hey, Miguel, do you have any land”?
“No”
“Neither do I. Okay, meeting adjourned.”

“Of course, conflict and disagreement are inevitable but that is half the fun.”

What’s the other half of the fun?

“On the first day of the Forum the people took to the streets for an anti-war march.

As Brazilian government ministers walked with protesters there was an air of great hope spreading to campaigners from all across the globe.”

Another feature of the reporting of all these events is this kind of semi-messianic euphoria. They’re forever telling the world how excited and happy they are. Is it jet-lag, I wonder?

January 26th, 2003 | 6 comments - (Comments are closed)

Front pages from around the world

· Events

Another Brian, the Rev. Brian Chapin, calls this collection of 174 newspaper front pages from 26 countries around the world “the coolest thing I’ve ever seen on the internet”. That may be an exaggeration, but it is a nice thing to be able to see.

You can’t actually read the text on these front pages, although of course you can read the headlines. The images aren’t detailed enough for that. But you can go from each front page to the website of each newspaper featured.

I’m not sure if the front pages that appear are updated each day. I’m guessing yes. Perhaps a commenter can clarify.

STOP PRESS: I went back, when checking that the link worked, and yes it is today’s front pages. The clue was in the title of the webpage, which, I now note, is: “Today’s Front Pages.” We Samizdatistas don’t miss a thing, do we? (Don’t answer that.)

January 15th, 2003 | 4 comments - (Comments are closed)

“Down with Beauty”

· Events · Middle East & Islamic

In response to rioting by Muslims in Nigeria which has left over a 100 people dead, the organisers of Miss World have hastily arranged for the whole competition to be moved to Britain.

Rumour has it that the international beauty pageant will resume in Finsbury Park

November 23rd, 2002 | 6 comments - (Comments are closed)
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